00:00I was like you can try as hard as you want but I was like I'm not gonna let you win and he's like
00:07you will because he's like we rape women we take women at the back and rape women like you so that
00:14you follow the rules this is what Kate a former Navy service woman said she was told by her boss
00:21after she stood up to him following months of bullying and harassment my heart just stopped
00:27it wasn't the first time or the last time Kate says she experienced sexual harassment or assault
00:40during her 13-year career she is one of what this law firm anticipates will be thousands of women
00:47soon to pen their name to a monumental class action against Australia's Defence Force there have been
00:53numerous commissions and inquiries and investigations and reports there's tens of thousands of pages of
01:00recommendations out there none of it's made a difference and these women still feel unheard
01:05the lawsuit alleges service women are subject to widespread systemic sexual violence harassment
01:12discrimination abuse and rape it would be the absolute worst place for a woman to work in this
01:18country it is completely unsafe mmm Wow that's a big statement tonight yeah I don't make it lightly
01:23Rebecca McGaw is an Air Force veteran who will also be signing up to the class action she was sexually
01:31assaulted at just 17 years old by a colleague during her initial training he turns to me looks at me with
01:37this grin and he grabs my breast and just walks out I remember the initial shock of just not not
01:46processing it sort of like a deer in headlights just going whoa
01:51Ms McGaw's perpetrator was counseled for his actions but not further punished the Air Force later admitted that
01:58processes were not followed and despite the mandatory requirement the matter be referred to civilian
02:04police and child protective services it wasn't it's very young I was less than 18 years old it's one of my
02:12the first experiences so to speak the class action is headed by four lead anonymous applicants from
02:19various parts of the force they share one thing in common they say they were made to feel like the
02:25problem when they reported not their alleged perpetrators all women who served between November
02:312003 and May this year will automatically be enrolled in the class action but those not impacted can opt out in a statement the ADF said there is no place for sexual violence or misconduct in defense and it is developing prevention strategies and improving education and awareness
02:52Donna Manton is an advocate for service women who have been assaulted and a survivor herself she says this class
03:00action will be a watershed moment for the women of defense and it's not about the money no amount of
03:06money gives you back your dignity but that validation that recognition goes some way to that dignity and that
03:13autonomy that you denied when you're sexually assaulted Laura Lavelle ABC News
