Defence will respect the rights of military personnel who sign up to a landmark class action alleging systemic sexual abuse and harassment, the chief of Australia's military says.
More than 1000 Australian Defence Force women have registered for the legal action against the Commonwealth, which is trying to remove any incidents alleged to have occurred while the women were deployed overseas from the claim.
Speaking on the legal action for the first time, Admiral David Johnston said Defence acknowledged and respected the legal rights of its members to take part in the challenge.
"All Defence personnel have a right to be respected and deserve to have a safe and positive workplace experience," he told Senate estimates on Wednesday.
"There is no place for sexual violence in Defence. We will continue striving to eliminate sexual violence from our workforce."
The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide found sexual violence to be a "systemic" issue.
Noting the one-year anniversary of the federal government's response to the inquiry's damning report, Admiral Johnston said implementing the recommendations remained a "Defence priority".
Asked why the Commonwealth was seeking to exclude incidents of sexual violence that occurred overseas, Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said he would look into it.
"Sexual misconduct in our defence force is unacceptable wherever it occurs, I'm very clear on that," he told the National Press Club on Tuesday.
The first hearing of the legal action was held in the Federal Court in Sydney on Tuesday.
Any woman subjected to sexual violence, sexual harassment or discrimination while working in the ADF between November 12, 2003 and May 25, 2025 is eligible to participate in the class action, announced in October.
Mr Keogh confirmed a standalone inquiry into military sexual violence is expected to start in mid-2026.
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