How Brigadier Arnold stopped the investigation of my complaint of unacceptable behaviour in the ADF

When the ADF or the Minister for Defence says they are going to have an inquiry, most people would expect they would gather as much information as possible in order to make the best decision.

But what actually happens is that the Terms of Reference for an inquiry of usually limited so that nothing will be uncovered that reflects badly on Defence or the Minister for Defence.

For example, read through the TOR for my complaint. There are more things excluded than included.

As a result of poor leadership like this, the ADF is now unable to provide health support for any of our forces serving overseas. In Afghanistan, medical support was provided by the Dutch and now the US. In East Timor and the Solomon Islands, it is provided by a civilian group, ASPEN Medical Services.

Civilian health support is not as good as uniformed health support. And when the situation becomes unstable, the civilians must leave. Then the troops have no health support.

Terms of Reference of the ADF inquiry into my complaint of unacceptable behaviour.

2008 Redress of Grievance about Unacceptable Behaviour in the ADF

This is a slightly edited copy of the complaint I made about unacceptable behaviour in my unit, 4 Combat Service Support Battalion, in 2008.

Brigadier Arnold, then the  Commander of 4 Brigade, refused to investigate most of this complaint. See his Terms of Reference in a later blog entry to see how the ADF sweeps matters under the carpet.

2008 Redress of Grievance about Unacceptable Behaviour in Defence