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Previous Reports of the Review

In April 2011, the former Minister for Defence, the Hon. Stephen Smith, requested the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, on behalf of the Australian Human Rights Commission, lead a review into the treatment of women in the Australian Defence Force. This Review was part of the ADF’s cultural review program and was the only independent review conducted.

The Terms of Reference required the Review to report and make recommendations in relation to systemic issues relevant to the treatment of women in the ADF. The Review did not investigate or make findings in relation to specific allegations or complaints.

The Review is comprised of three phases:

Phase 1: Review into the Treatment of Women at the Australian Defence Force Academy (the ADFA Review)

Report tabled in Parliament on 3 November 2011.

Phase 2: Review into the Treatment of Women in the Australian Defence Force (the ADF Review)

Report tabled in Parliament on 22 August 2012.

Phase 3: Audit of the Implementation of the Review’s Recommendations

Audit of the implementation of the recommendations made by the Review into the Treatment of Women at the Australian Defence Force Academy, Report tabled in Parliament on 23 July 2013 (the ADFA Audit).

This final Report comprises an audit of the implementation of the recommendations made in the ADF Review, as required by the Terms of Reference. It also includes an update of the ADFA Audit tabled in July 2013 (at Appendix 1).

This Report therefore represents the final stages of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s obligations under the Terms of Reference.

Previous reports can be viewed at defencereview.humanrights.gov.au