Australia's Defence Force to pay out millions in sexual, physical abuse compensation

Australia's Defence Department could be forced to hand over millions of dollars in payouts to current and former employees, after local media uncovered more than 300 compensation claims for abuse, damages, personal injury and a "defective administration".

More than 100 of those claims are related to sexual and physical abuse, with some cases dating back as far as 1963.

Fairfax Media reported that some individual victims are calling for more than one million dollars' worth of compensation, while Shine Lawyers' Adair Donaldson told Fairfax Media that more victims could be expected to speak out as class-action lawsuit builds momentum.

However Donaldson declined to put a number on the number of potential victims.

"I suspect there will be more complainants who come forward and I'd hope the Australian Defence Force (ADF) continues to handle them with a collaborative approach," he said.

Australia Defence Association executive director Neil James said the payout "could be big" but acknowledged that some claims date back almost 60 years, and some claims might not be valid.

In a statement, the Defence Department said it was keen to resolve the issue promptly so that it can continue to be "committed to effective cultural reform" in relation to abuse claims.

The ADF's unsavoury history of abuse has been well documented, with a number of claims - involving gang rape, sexual assault and physical abuse - surfacing in recent years.

Fairfax reported that one case in 2011, which involved a female cadet who was secretly filmed having sex with a fellow member of staff, was the catalyst for victims demanding compensation and reform within Defence ranks. Endit