MR: Inquiry fails to endorse financial redress for discharged LGBTIQA+ service personnel

[Michael Barnett OAM]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rodney Croome <rodney...@equal.org.au>
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2026 at 21:25
Subject: MR: Inquiry fails to endorse financial redress for discharged LGBTIQA+ service personnel
To: Rodney Croome <rodney...@equal.org.au>

 

 

Media Release

Friday July 31st 2026

 

Inquiry fails to endorse financial redress for discharged LGBTIQA+ service personnel

Advocates to step up campaign

 

Just.Equal Australia says it’s disappointed an inquiry has failed to endorse financial redress for former Australian service personnel discharged from the military because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

 

The Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade has issued a report on a Government military discipline bill which supports annotating records to exonerate those discharged, offering a Certificate of Honourable Service and giving a formal apology (see recommendation below).

 

Just.Equal Australia spokesperson, Rodney Croome, said,

 

“We support the Committee’s recommendations as far as they go but they should have gone further by endorsing financial redress.”

 

“Comparable countries like the UK and Canada provide financial redress for service personnel unjustly discharged because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.”

 

“Tasmania provides financial redress for those who were convicted under the state’s former laws against homosexuality and cross-dressing.”

 

“The Australian Government must follow these precedents and provide full justice to mistreated LGBTIQA+ service personnel.”

 

“A certificate and an apology cannot make up for loss of career, loss of income, and the long-term pain of discrimination and humiliation.”

 

“We are disappointed by the Committee’s failure to support financial redress, but we are not daunted and will continue to speak out in support of justice for LGBTIQA+ former service personnel.”

 

Just.Equal Australia wrote to the Committee supporting financial redress and highlighting parallel schemes locally and in other countries.

Mr Croome said Just.Equal will step up its advocacy by writing to federal politicians and the RSL highlighting the need for financial redress and calling for their support.

 

For a copy of this statement on the web, click here

For more information contact Rodney Croome on 0409 010 668.

 

Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade recommendation regarding the Defence Force Discipline Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 1) Bill 2026

Recommendation 1

2.50The Committee recommends the following additional measures to address historical discrimination against LGBTIQA+ personnel and veterans:

on request by an affected person, the Department of Defence should annotate any relevant Defence records to acknowledge that the action or outcome in question arose wholly or partly from conduct, status or circumstances relating to that person's sexual orientation or gender identity that would not constitute an offence under current Australia law or breach current Australian Defence Force policy;

the Department of Defence should offer a Certificate of Honourable Service to personnel and veterans impacted by historical discriminatory policies; and

the Australian Government should issue a formal apology acknowledging any harm experienced by LGBTIQA+ personnel and veterans as a result of historical discriminatory policies.

 

https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Foreign_Affairs_Defence_and_Trade/DefenceDisciplineRCDVSNo1/Report