The Wire

Some victims were taken by surprise today when the Defence Minister Stephen Smith announced an inquiry into abuse in the Australian Defence Force, and issued an apology in parliament, with only a few hours advance notice. The inquiry comes after hundreds of allegations were raised in a report by law firm DLA Piper.

Some long-term campaigners for the victims of abuse in the defence force have welcomed the inquiry, which promises to allow victims to tell their stories, and provides for compensation.Others have questioned why the apology was issued with only a few hours of advance notice, meaning that some victims missed out on seeing the apology altogether.