Mr Smith previously said he was told by Defence that Kate was never "ordered" to make a public apology. Kate has claimed Commodore Kafer urged her to make a humiliating public apology to her fellow recruits for going to the media. She had hoped to stay on and enjoy a long career in the military, but that dream is looking increasingly unlikely. The Royal Australian Air Force cadet at the centre of the scandal, known only as "Kate", told Channel 10 last night she had to take leave amid continued harassment from other recruits for going to the media with her story. “We need to go through a process and when that process is complete judgments will be made and appropriate action will be taken.” and the organisation.”Īir Chief Marshal Houston also confirmed the male cadet involved in the sex act at the centre of Skype incident was still at the military college and continuing his studies.Īsked it that was appropriate, the Defence chief replied: “I think so, yes.” “So the environment is such that it is important that he go on leave in the best interest of himself. “It’s been very stressful for Commodore Kafer and his family. “He has been subject to abusive and offensive phone calls and the like,” he said. “So the chief of the Defence force will bring forward that matter as a matter of priority.”Ĭurrently, women are excluded from such roles as clearance diving teams, infantry, armour, artillery, combat engineers and airfield defence guards.ĭefence force chief Angus Houston revealed that Commodore Kafer has been receiving abusive phone calls since the scandal broke. “When it comes to women in the ADF, including in combat roles, an opportunity for women should be determined on the basis of physical and intellectual capacity not on gender,” Mr Smith said. It was again promoted by former Defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon in 2008 to bring about “cultural change” in the ADF. The plan was first flagged in 2001 as part of a scheme to get more women into senior ranks. Mr Smith said the chief of the Defence Force would bring forward a plan to allow women to undertake combat roles. “In saying that, all options will be on the table and I don’t exclude a further legal or judicial look at some of those issues,” Mr Smith said. Those complaints needed to be dealt with “carefully, exhaustively and methodically”, he said.ĭepartment of Defence secretary Ian Watt will commission external legal advice to see how those complaints might warrant further consideration. Mr Smith said he was aware the Skype incident had encouraged others to come forward with allegations of misconduct at the Defence academy and the ADF. “That inquiry will deal with all of the issues relating to the management of the so-called Skype incident,” Mr Smith said. It will be headed by Victorian barrister Andrew Kirkham QC. Mr Smith said an independent inquiry of the handling of the military college sex scandal would be conducted under the Defence inquiry regulations. “This decision was made by the vice-chief of the Defence Force - who is effectively Commodore Kafer's commanding officer - in his best interest, in the best interest of ADFA and also in the best interest of Defence. “Commodore Kafer on Saturday was directed by the vice-chief of the defence force to take leave effective from Sunday afternoon,“ Mr Smith said. Mr Smith said academy commandant Bruce Kafer, who's been criticised for his handling of the sex scandal, has been told to go on leave. Mr Smith has also asked the inspector general of Defence to conduct a separate review examining the management of complaints. Ms Broderick has been called in following revelations last week that an 18-year-old cadet was secretly filmed having sex with a fellow student at the Australian Defence Force Academy.