GLBTI Rights in Ageing Inc (GRAI) is urging former and current LGBTIQA+ Defence personnel to speak out before a Senate inquiry deadline, warning that many veterans harmed under historical discriminatory Defence policies may be excluded from proposed Commonwealth reforms.
The Defence Force Discipline Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 1) Bill 2026 would create a pathway to extinguish historical homosexual service offence convictions.
However, GRAI says many veterans were never formally convicted because Defence often relied on administrative discharge, forced resignation, security clearance removal and other internal processes to remove personnel suspected of being gay or lesbian.
GRAI Chair David Gibson said those veterans risked being overlooked despite experiencing the same lifelong consequences.
“For many people, the punishment wasn’t a conviction. It was losing a career, losing their identity as a veteran, and carrying that trauma for decades,” Gibson said.
“We are deeply concerned that veterans removed through administrative processes may fall through the cracks of this legislation.”
“Parliament only gets one chance to properly right this wrong. If the legislation is too narrow, many veterans who suffered the same discrimination and harm will once again be left behind.”
GRAI is lodging a submission to the Senate inquiry calling for the Bill to be expanded to recognise veterans affected through non-conviction pathways, including administrative discharge and related disciplinary processes.
The organisation is also encouraging veterans and families to either make their own submission to the inquiry or provide information confidentially to GRAI before 31 May 2026.
Examples of experiences that may be relevant include, investigations relating to sexuality, administrative discharge or pressure to resign, loss of security clearances or promotion opportunities, disciplinary action linked to consensual same-sex conduct, long-term impacts on mental health and relationships or veteran identity.
Gibson said many older LGBTI veterans had remained silent for decades.
“Some people are talking about these experiences publicly for the first time in their lives,” he said.
“If this legislation is going to acknowledge historic wrongs, it needs to acknowledge the full reality of how those policies operated.”
“For some veterans, this may be the only opportunity in their lifetime to have these experiences formally recognised by the Commonwealth.”
Information about the Senate inquiry, including how to make a submission, is available online. People wishing to provide information confidentially to GRAI for inclusion in its submission can contact chair@grai.org.au by 31 May 2026
