The outgoing Chief of the Australian Army, a privileged white man whom, by his own admission, has never experienced discrimination, has vowed to spend the rest of his life helping to stamp out sexism and advocate for diversity.
Lieutenant General David Morrison told journalist Anne Summers and an audience in Sydney last night, that the past two years of his career working to change the culture of the Australian Army has been the “best thing” he has ever done.
In June 2013, Morrison inadvertently became a hero for gender equality (and a YouTube sensation) when his video message imploring members of the Defence Force to shape up or ship out went viral. His anger in the video was evident to all who watched it and, almost two years later, it shows no sign of abating.
“I was deeply offended,” Morrison told ‘Anne Summers In Conversation’. “I was brought up to behave ethically…. and was probably naïve to how prevalent this behaviour was.”
That behaviour resulted in both an internal defence and external police investigation into the so-called “Jedi Council affair”, and saw over 100 military personnel lose their jobs for participating in, or failing to stop, the sexual harassment of female officers.
David Morrison told Anne Summers his understanding of how deeply sexual harassment and discrimination can affect an individual changed when he met with victims face to face.
“I can tell you about all of them (meetings with female soldiers) because they are imprinted on my psyche and will be for the rest of my life.”
The meetings were facilitated by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Liz Broderick and Morrison says they not only changed his life, but also his understanding of how many people within the ADF had been involved in the mistreatment of women, including those who just stood by and let it happen.
“I did not understand the level of personal pain…. I defy any man to have a conversation (with a victim) and not be affected.”
Morrison was brought up in the Army – his father joined in 1945 – and he has served 36 years himself. In that time he’s faced many challenges but admits changing culture is and has been one of the hardest.
“Things have changed, things are changing…(but) let’s face it, it’s (still) a man’s world.”
Some of the changes implemented under Morrison with the help of Liz Broderick include targets to employ more females, workplace flexibility and maternity leave. Morrison is also committed to ensuring transgender, gay and lesbian people feel safe to work in the Army.
Yet he admits there’s a long way to go.
“This is no longer a feminist issue, it’s a societal issue. (And) whoever takes over from me has got not choice but to continue the momentum for change. There is no going back now. If people aren’t prepared to live by the code – then they can find somewhere else to work.”
Lieutenant General David Morrison will leave big shoes to fill when he leaves the Army in May. A soldier who can quote Machiavelli and is committed to helping the world become a fairer place.
“I will never lose the passion for embracing diversity, because that is the future of the planet.”