I have a fairly good network of friends and contacts within defence and other national security agencies.

It's very unusual for any of my contacts to leak material to me.   The culture of secrecy is so strong in Defence and the security services that leaking is a very unnatural act.   Secondly the safeguards deployed by defence in document-marking, electronic communications metadata analysis etc mean the likelihood of getting caught is very high.   

That said, I received four separate sets of leaked material in relation to the appointment of Christopher Gordon Williams as an officer of army cadets and his sexual abuse of young girls in his care during the years 2012-14.  Each of my sources had an identical reason for speaking to me - that was a well-founded belief that Williams was being protected and allowed to get away with his offending.

In the first week of April 2014 I received this document, it's a media management strategy plan for the "Williams" issues and this is the first time it's been published.

That paper referred to this published Judgement of the Federal Magistrates' Court about Williams's termination as an officer of Air Force Cadets.   The details in the court file are damning of Williams.

After speaking with parents of girls who were in fear of Williams it was clear to me that as of Monday, 7 April 2014 the man presented a clear and immediate danger to children.

At first I doubted the stories the parents and young people told about how difficult it was to get anyone to take their complaints seriously.  I thought that in the modern environment any hint of sexually abusive behaviour involving children would bring a ton of bricks down onto the offender.   I was wrong - now two years later we're all starting to see how wrong.

 On Monday 7 April 2014 I attempted to make an urgent verbal report of the allegations parents had put to me to the ADF MediaOps call centre.    Call centre operator Eva (no surname was furnished) refused to accept a verbal report, I remonstrated somewhat and explained the urgency given a parade of cadets scheduled for the following morning but I was told no verbal report would be accepted.

I then phoned Minister David Johnston's office and spoke with Mark Dodd his media advisor.   DODD told me he would not take a verbal report, he told me to put something in writing and said, "I've got a Malaysian Airliner to find' before hanging up.

At 2.06PM Monday 7 April 2014 I sent this written report and series of questions to the ADF MediaOps unit.

Michael Smith <[email protected]>	4/7/14
to mediaops, Chris, boxd

My name is Michael Smith, I am a journalist and with others I am writing a story for The Australian newspaper regarding the St George Army Cadet Unit.

 

NSW Police has today confirmed to me that the Force has received a complaint alleging that a male Officer of Cadets has acted inappropriately towards minor female cadets in his care.

 

Is Defence aware of any allegations involving sexual misconduct complaints against any of its adult officers within the cadet unit at Rockdale?

 

Was an officer of the Australian Army Cadets at the Rockdale Army Cadet Unit formerly commissioned as an Officer of the Australian Air Force Cadets?

 

This record of proceedings in the Federal Magistrates Court may be of assistance to Defence.

 

Is Defence aware of any criminal history involving offences of dishonesty recorded against any Officers of Cadets attached to the Rockdale Cadet Unit?

 

Was an Officer of Cadets commissioned into the Australian Army Cadets with a criminal history that includes convictions for fraud, a gaol sentence in Tasmania, removal from the register of legal practitioners and dismissal from the Australian Air Force Cadets?

 

What actions has Defence taken in relation to the Rockdale Cadet Unit to safeguard the minor persons who attend there, particularly for parade tomorrow morning?

 

Michael Smith

0410 446 410

 

 

ENDS

 

 

 

 

Late the next day 8 April 2014 Defence responded with this note

 

 

:

MediaOps <[email protected]>

to:

Michael Smith <[email protected]>,

RE: St George Army Cadet Unit - report to NSW Police regarding allegations of sexual assault of of minors [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

1 - Is Defence aware of any allegations involving sexual misconduct complaints against any of its adult officers within the cadet unit at Rockdale? 

2 - Was an officer of the Australian Army Cadets at the Rockdale Army Cadet Unit formerly commissioned as an Officer of the Australian Air Force Cadets? 

3 - Is Defence aware of any criminal history involving offences of dishonesty recorded against any Officers of Cadets attached to the Rockdale Cadet Unit? 

4 - Was an Officer of Cadets commissioned into the Australian Army Cadets with a criminal history that includes convictions for fraud, a gaol sentence in Tasmania, removal from the register of legal practitioners and dismissal from the Australian Air Force Cadets? 

5 - What actions has Defence taken in relation to the Rockdale Cadet Unit to safeguard the minor persons who attend there, particularly for parade tomorrow morning?

6 - Can we please verify the authenticity of the attached document (i.e does defence have any reason to believe it is not genuine or has been doctored in any way?

7 - Is Defence aware of the allegations regarding Mr Williams and if so is it investigating the matter?

8 - The report notes allegations were made as early as 2012, with formal complaints also lodged, but no significant action has been taken against Mr Williams. Has defence attempted to cover up this matter? If not why has no action been taken despite the repeated complaints?

9 - The report notes the “length of this series of incidents is of concern” and draws parallels with findings involving the Scouts at the 2013 Royal Commission into child abuse. As part of its media strategy the note mentions the “release strategy” should be “reactive” with the AAC only to give out information if “people / media ask for it”. Does Defence think this is appropriate in line of the recent Skype-sex scandal and following changes?

  

Response to all:
 
The Australian Army Cadets (AAC) is aware of allegations relating to possible breaches of the AAC Code of Conduct and Behaviour Policy at the Rockdale Army Cadet Unit.
 
Defence is also aware these allegations have been referred to the NSW Police Force. Defence is cooperating with the NSW Police in relation to these allegations however is unable to comment on the status of the investigation. Any enquiries relating to these allegations and/or the investigation should be directed to the NSW Police Force.
 
Due to the ongoing investigations and the provisions of the Privacy Act, Defence is unable to disclose personal information of individuals in response to media enquiries.
 
The document you have provided is an initial report in draft format. Defence is enquiring into the allegations contained in the document. As such, it would be inappropriate for Defence to comment or to speculate further as to the allegations, or any possible outcome at this time.  In addition, the views expressed in the document do not reflect the approach of Defence's senior leadership to allegations of unacceptable behaviour. Defence's approach to allegations of unacceptable behaviour is available on the public record.  Recent examples include the Chief of Army (the so-called Jedi Council in June 2013), the Vice Chief of Defence Force (ADFA in June 2013) and the Chief of Navy (HMAS Ballarat in November 2013).
 
Defence does not condone unacceptable behaviour and such conduct is not representative of the values and ethos of Defence or our members. Where allegations of unacceptable behaviour are made, Defence is cognisant of the need to balance the imperative to be open and transparent without compromising individual privacy or prejudicing civilian police enquiries. Accordingly, Defence strongly refutes the suggestion that it is “covering up” allegations of this nature.

_____________________________

 

Regards,

 

Media Operations

Department of Defence

 

Russell Offices | PO Box 7909 | Canberra BC | ACT 2610

P: +61 2 6127 1999 | E: [email protected] 

ENDS

On 9 April 2014 the first of quite a few stories ran on this matter in The Australian.

That same day I wrote to a very senior NSW Judge who is associated with Army Cadets

Michael Smith <[email protected]>	4/9/14
to

 

 

 

 

 

Your Honour,

 

On Monday I was contacted by an informant not associated with Defence who was very distressed about the safety of young girls in the care of the convicted felon WILLIAMS.

 

WILLIAMS criminal history and dismissal from the Australian Air Force Cadets are widely canvassed in the learned Federal Magistrate McInnis's ruling on WILLIAMS's appeal against his dismissal - here.

 

I attempted to make a verbal report of the allegations to the ADF MediaOps centre on Monday afternoon but the call centre operator Eva (no surname was furnished) refused to accept a verbal report, I remonstrated somewhat and explained the urgency given a parade of cadets scheduled for the following morning but I was told no verbal report would be accepted.

 

I then phoned Minister Johnstone's office and spoke with Mark Dodd his media advisor.   DODD told me he would not take a verbal report, he told me to put something in writing, "I've got a Malaysian Airliner to find."

 

Michael

ATTACHMENT - Media Strategy Document

ENDS

That same day Defence apparently took some internal advice it could have done without resulting in this shocker of a public statement meant to end all public statements on the matter.

It was only unacceptable behaviour.   It's been addressed.   Nothing to see here.

That statement was clearly inadequate and I  amongst others made a fair bit of noise about it.

To cut to the chase, on 17 April 2014 Morrison took personal responsibility for the Williams matter (starting with the allegations/questions I'd put to Defence for the first tine on 8 April 2014).

The Morrison media strategy was to rule a line under further reporting by the creation of an "inquiry" into the suite of allegations with the protraction and prestige of being an inquiry directed by the Chief of Army.

If only he meant it.

UNCLASSIFIED

Good afternoon Michael,

Please see below response to your enquiry, attributable to a 'Defence spokesperson' rather than a named individual.

______________________

Thank you for your enquiry.

Following your previous enquiry regarding this matter on 8 April 2014, Defence can advise that;

• the Chief of Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison, AO, has directed an inquiry into the allegations, including Australian Army Cadets (AAC) policies, procedures and management of complaints,
• the individual concerned has been suspended from all duties and activities as an Officer of Cadets in the AAC,
• Defence is assisting the NSW Police Force with their investigation,
• members of the cadet unit have been offered referrals to support services.

At this time, Defence is therefore unable to release any further details regarding the individuals concerned, including their personal information, service history or the allegations, due to the investigation and the provisions of the Privacy Act.

____________________

Regards,

ENDS

I'll be back shortly with two more new documents that show that it was business as usual for Williams and his friends.