The Australian government made a parliamentary apology yesterday to victims of abuse in the military and set up a compensation fund after hundreds of claims of sexual assault. Defense Minister Stephen Smith also established an independent taskforce to individually assess each allegation uncovered by a report commissioned by the government last year. The taskforce will be able to refer appropriate matters to police for formal criminal investigation, while offering victims help in accessing counseling, health, and other services. “Young men and women have endured sexual, physical or mental abuse from their colleagues which is not acceptable and does not reflect the values of a modern, diverse, tolerant Australian society,” Smith told Parliament. “Such experiences have had a lasting, serious, traumatic and adverse impact on the people who have experienced them.” In his statement, Smith lashed out at senior military figures who occupied positions of trust and who “abused that trust through their behavior, including through the turning of a blind eye”. “Today’s men and women of the Australian Defense Force or the Department of Defense who have suffered sexual or other abuse, on behalf of the government I say sorry,” he said. “You should never have experienced this abuse. Again, I say sorry.” A capped compensation fund was set up with the taskforce, headed by former West Australian Supreme Court judge Len Roberts-Smith, to determine who qualifies for payouts of up to Aus$ 50,000 (US$ 52,000). Smith said the Defense Force would bear the financial burden of any compensation, with military and government officials “committed to zero tolerance in the future”. “Acknowledging the past and taking responsibility for it is only the first step,” he said.