Omni Bridgeway Backs Landmark Class Action Over Sexual Discrimination in Australian Defence Force

Omni Bridgeway is financing a landmark class action against the Commonwealth of Australia on behalf of current and former female members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) who allege they were subjected to sexual assault, harassment, and discrimination while serving. The case, filed by JGA Saddler Lawyers, marks one of the most significant gender-based class actions ever brought against the Australian government.

The representative proceeding alleges that the ADF failed to protect female personnel from gender-based violence and is vicariously liable for its inability to prevent or deter systemic sexual misconduct by its members. The claim builds on decades of official inquiries and reports documenting a persistent culture of discrimination and abuse within the military, despite repeated reform pledges.

Female participation in the ADF has nearly doubled since the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth), yet sexual harassment remains a “prevalent issue,” according to a series of government investigations. Most recently, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide (2024) confirmed that “the majority of sexual violence in the ADF is perpetrated by men and the majority of victims are women,” underscoring the scale and persistence of the problem.

The class action covers women who served between November 13, 2003, and May 25, 2025, and alleges misconduct ranging from verbal harassment and stalking to sexual assault and rape. In a statement, JGA Saddler Lawyers said the litigation aims to secure accountability, systemic reform, and compensation for victims who were “failed by an institution that promised to protect them.”

For Omni Bridgeway, the case builds on the funder’s experience backing mass tort and human rights litigation across Australia and beyond.

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