7:30 talks to Army Officer who was victim of gay hate campaign

A senior Army Officer will defy Defence Force policy to tell ABC’s 7:30 he was targeted by army personnel in a gay hate vilification campaign and officials have neglected his mental health.

Lieutenant Colonel Paul Morgan is the leading policy officer responsible for the mental health of Australia’s deployed soldiers.

He’s also a victim of abuse. In 2010 he was targeted in a gay hate vilification campaign on facebook, and received a vicious death threat because of his homosexuality.

Now, Colonel Morgan has defied the Defence policies on speaking to the media, and given 7.30 a compelling account of the Defence Force’s approach to his case. He also attacks the ADF approach on broader issues of the treatment of abuse, and mental health.

“All forms of abuse are neglected in Defence, including sexual abuse victims”, Colonel Morgan says in the interview with 7.30’s Hayden Cooper.

“Absolutely nothing has changed since the release of ‘Pathway to Change’ a year ago. My personal experience tells me that the Army’s abuse management strategies that I’ve seen – delay, deter and deceive – are still in force now”, Colonel Morgan says.

Colonel Morgan says his case was completely mismanaged by Defence leadership.

He’s angry that none of the soldiers who joined the gay hate facebook page received a formal warning, or were disciplined by Defence.

“Every officer in my chain of command, every Colonel and General all the way through to the current Chief of Army, Lt Gen David Morrison, systematically failed their duty in relation to the management of my complaint.” Colonel Morgan says.

7.30 has obtained an internal ADF briefing document which admits Defence shortcomings in handling Colonel Morgan’s case.

The 16 year veteran of the Army also says there’s been no change to the treatment of abuse victims, despite a string of inquiries and reports after recent cases of sexual abuse.

7:30 tonight on ABC1.