PROSPECTS are vanishing for serious reform of the Australian Defence Force culture of bullying, brutality and degradation. Little, if anything, seems likely to change substantially following two weeks of grubby disclosures, political–military breast-beating and the establishment of multiple inquiries.

Doubtless there will be gestures to placate public and political concern over the notorious culture exposed once again by the incident involving the sexual degradation of an eighteen-year-old female cadet at the Australian Defence Force Academy. But the military chiefs have managed the issue with such consummate skill that Defence Minister Stephen Smith has virtually no prospect of achieving root-and-branch reform of how defence force recruits, both officer cadets and enlisted troops, are treated in Australian Defence Force training establishments…