Key Developments
On 5 September 2026, the Minister for Defence appointed Natasha Stott Despoja AC as Deputy Commissioner of the Defence and Veteran Service Commission to lead an inquiry into military sexual violence. The Minister for Defence said the inquiry would examine protections for Australian Defence Force members and report publicly after about 12 months.
Key Statistics
- 12 months: approximate duration of the Military Sexual Violence Inquiry before a public report is expected
Main Body
On 5 September 2026, the Minister for Defence announced that Natasha Stott Despoja AC had been appointed as Deputy Commissioner of the Defence and Veteran Service Commission to lead an inquiry into military sexual violence. The Minister for Defence said the inquiry would focus on improving protections for Australian Defence Force members.
The Minister for Defence said the inquiry would include broad engagement with stakeholders and people affected by military sexual violence. According to the Minister for Defence, the process was expected to run for about 12 months and conclude with a public report, giving the inquiry a defined timeline and a public accountability mechanism.
The Minister for Defence linked the inquiry to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. The Minister for Defence said the appointment responded to recommendation 25, placing the inquiry within the government’s wider response to service-related harm and institutional safeguards.
The development mattered for defence governance because the Minister for Defence established a dedicated inquiry inside the Defence and Veteran Service Commission, rather than treating military sexual violence only as an internal discipline issue. The planned public report, according to the Minister for Defence, was intended to support stronger protections for ADF personnel and provide a formal basis for further government action.
