Fed: Committee fails to find culture of violence in army=2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2001
Fed: Committee fails to find culture of violence in army=2

A parliamentary committee says it found unacceptable conduct in one unit of the army,
but no widespread culture of violence.

Chairman Liberal MP DAVID HAWKER says the committee concluded the violence wasn't widespread
because of an absence of submissions pointing to such a problem.

The defence sub-committee -- releasing its report -- said it's fairly comfortable that
its pressure on the defence force had led to the implementation of steps to correct the
problems.

Mr HAWKER says the committee found a system of extra-judicial punishments existed within
the 3rd battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment.

He says the problems with 3RAR took place over 1996 to 1998, but once the situation
was identified the ensuing investigations took too long.

Mr HAWKER says following pressure by the committee and subsequent actions by defence
chiefs, processes are now firmly in place to correct the situation.

The army's dealt with 10 soldiers under disciplinary proceedings and a military justice
audit is being run by former Federal Court judge Justice JAMES BURCHETT.

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KEYWORD: REGIMENT 2 CANBERRA

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