Daily Global Diary — On a cold night in 2010, at a New South Wales military base, a young Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) airwoman found herself cornered by a drunken senior corporal wielding a machete. That woman, now revealed as Julia Delaforce, was sexually harassed at knifepoint. But what followed was perhaps even more harrowing—she was ordered to drive her attacker home.

Fifteen years later, Delaforce is breaking her silence. And the truth she carries is deeply unsettling.

Appearing on 60 Minutes and 9Fairfax this weekend, Delaforce shared the traumatic events that shattered her career and personal life—and the systematic cover-up that allegedly shielded her abuser while silencing her.

“For fifteen years I was silent,” said Delaforce. “I asked for help so many times: from inside the ADF, to multiple Defence Ministers, and even to the Prime Minister. Yet instead of the corporal who sexually harassed me being punished, I was the one punished.”

A Silenced Voice, A Broken System

At just 22 years old, Julia Delaforce experienced what no one in uniform should—violence from within. According to her statement, the attack was not an isolated incident. It was a symptom of a broader cultural rot within the Australian Defence Force (ADF)—an institution often accused of ignoring or burying misconduct, especially against women.

Following her internal complaint and a submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission, Julia’s testimony helped trigger the landmark Inquiry into the Treatment of Women in the ADF. But due to a confidential out-of-court settlement in 2013, she was silenced—legally barred from speaking publicly or testifying at royal commissions and inquiries.

The toll? Her career, her health, and her voice.

“I couldn’t speak about the abuse and cover-up in the ADF which led me to losing my career and suffering complex PTSD,” she said.

A Voice Regained Through Human Rights Law Centre

Now, thanks to support from the Human Rights Law Centre and its Whistleblower Project, Julia has finally reclaimed her narrative. Represented by senior lawyer Regina Featherstone, Delaforce has spoken out not just for herself, but for the many silenced victims within Australia’s armed forces.

Featherstone did not mince words:
“Women who speak up about sexual abuse, harassment and wrongdoing should be supported, and the wrongdoing should be addressed. Instead, they lose their careers and are often silenced.”

Featherstone added that this case underscores the urgent need for reform: “This important public interest journalism shows the systemic abuse and mistreatment of women in the ADF. The Albanese Government must fix Australia’s broken whistleblowing laws and implement a federal Whistleblower Protection Authority to ensure women can speak out against wrongdoing.”

A Call for Justice, and Reform

Australia’s current whistleblower protection laws—some of which date back to 1994—have long been criticized for being vague, under-enforced, and deeply flawed. According to legal experts and human rights groups, there is no independent body dedicated to protecting whistleblowers, unlike in other democratic nations.

Delaforce’s story is not unique. Numerous veterans, including other female service members, have accused the ADF of retaliation, victim-blaming, and procedural cover-ups in cases involving military sexual trauma (MST).

According to internal Defence documents reviewed by independent journalists, fewer than 1 in 10 sexual harassment allegations within the ADF result in disciplinary action against the perpetrator. And even fewer make it to a courtroom.

“She Dared to Speak”

Julia Delaforce is now being hailed as one of the few brave voices willing to defy a legal gag order and speak on behalf of silenced victims.

Her courage is also sparking growing political pressure. Prominent civil rights organisations and advocacy groups are calling on the Anthony Albanese government to create a Federal Whistleblower Protection Authority with real power—one that can support whistleblowers like Julia, and prosecute those who retaliate against them.

Delaforce’s public statement closes with a bittersweet sense of empowerment:
“The Human Rights Law Centre helped me get my voice back.”

Now, the question is whether Australia will listen.

It was a case that shook America — four promising University of Idaho students brutally murdered in the early hours of November 13, 2022, in what police would call a “targeted attack.” Now, nearly 900 days later, Bryan Kohberger, a 28-year-old criminology PhD student, has finally admitted to the crime. But to the dismay of victims’ families, he’ll never have to explain why.

Inside a hushed Idaho courtroom, Kohberger pleaded guilty to the “wilful, unlawful, deliberate” killing of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. His flat, emotionless demeanor contrasted starkly with the devastation of the families — some of whom say justice has been derailed.

“This plea did not represent the victims’ families,” said Steve Goncalves, father of Kaylee. “It represented an easy way out and no answers.”

Four Lives Taken, Four Futures Lost

The four students shared a rented off-campus home at 1122 King Road, Moscow, Idaho. Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen, both 21, were lifelong best friends and sorority sisters. Kaylee was a go-getter, described by her family as their “defender and protector.” She had just purchased a 2016 Range Rover and was preparing to move to Texas after a European vacation.

Madison, a marketing major with a love for pink and a knack for humor, was working at a local Greek restaurant. Her family said she had an “offbeat and hilarious sense of humour” that lit up every room she walked into.

Living with them was Xana Kernodle, 20, who dreamed of launching a marketing business with her sister. Her graduation cap read: “For The Lives I Will Change.” Xana’s boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, was visiting that night. A triplet and sports major, he had just attended a dance with his siblings earlier that day.

All four were stabbed multiple times in their sleep. Two other roommates survived — one of whom witnessed the killer in a ski mask moving through the darkened house.

A Chilling Trail of Clues

Following a month-long manhunt, Bryan Kohberger, a PhD student at Washington State University just 10 miles away, was arrested. Evidence included DNA from a knife sheath found at the scene, cell phone data showing him near the house on multiple occasions, and surveillance footage of his Hyundai Elantra speeding away from the scene.

What haunted many was that Kohberger returned to his apartment and took a selfie giving a thumbs-up — just hours after slaughtering four students.

Less than two weeks prior, university faculty had raised concerns over his troubling behavior. Female students reported him following them. Faculty cited “altercations.” But no formal action was taken until after the murders, when he was removed from his teaching assistant role.

Families Torn Over ‘Deal with the Devil’

Instead of facing trial, Kohberger agreed to plead guilty in exchange for avoiding the death penalty. He waived his right to appeal and will spend the rest of his life in prison without parole.

For some, it was a relief. The Mogen family, speaking through their attorney, said they were “100% accepting” of the plea. “We turn from tragedy and mourning to the light of the future,” they said. “We have closure.”

But for the Goncalves family, the plea was a betrayal. Steve Goncalves condemned it as a “deal with the devil,” saying prosecutors failed to consult them. “They decided to play God and decide what this man’s decision should be, and not a jury, not his peers.”

Despite the gravity of the day, Kohberger remained eerily expressionless in court. His parents sat behind him, crying silently. Not once did he look back.

What We Still Don’t Know

Despite overwhelming evidence — including Kohberger’s admissions, DNA, cell phone records, and surveillance footage — the central question remains unanswered: Why did he do it?

There was no known connection between Kohberger and any of the victims. No manifesto, no motive, no confession beyond his guilty plea.

Court documents reveal Kohberger circled the neighborhood multiple times and had turned his phone off before the killings. Yet nothing — no letter, no message, no reason — has surfaced to explain the horrifying violence.

Kohberger’s sentencing is scheduled for July 23, where victims’ families will be allowed to address the court directly. But the man who tore their worlds apart may still say nothing at all.

In a striking moment of political honesty and recalibration, Sussan Ley—newly appointed leader of the Liberal Party of Australia—stood before the National Press Club and didn’t mince words. “We got smashed,” she admitted, referencing the party’s crushing defeat in the federal election.

But Ley isn’t dwelling on the past—she’s signaling a seismic shift in tone, leadership, and direction.

This was no ordinary press club speech. It was the first such address by a Liberal leader in years, following a conspicuous absence under Peter Dutton. Opening with an acknowledgement of country and a vow to honour public service, Ley made clear: “The old way is over.

Let me send the clearest possible message: We need to do better, recruit better, retain better and support better, she declared, referring to the party’s underwhelming representation of women in Parliament—an issue long simmering beneath the surface.

Ley said she is “agnostic” about how the gender balance is achieved—whether through quotas or other measures—but she’s a “zealot” for ensuring it does happen. Her warning to underperforming state divisions was blunt: improve or face consequences.

Energy, Emissions and a New Coalition Compass

One of the most controversial topics now gripping the Coalition is climate policy, and Sussan Ley is not shying away from the storm.

To tackle the party’s fractured approach to net zero emissions, Ley announced the formation of a working group led by Dan Tehan, alongside figures like Ted O’Brien, Susan McDonald, Angie Bell, Alex Hawke, Dean Smith, and Andrew Willcox.

Their mission? To forge a policy that supports a “stable, affordable energy grid” while ensuring Australia contributes to global emission reduction goals.

The group’s findings will report directly to Ley and Nationals leader David Littleproud. The pressure is high—especially given public fractures between the Liberals and Nationals on nuclear power and climate targets.

A New Tone: Modern Australia, Modern Liberalism

Ley’s tone throughout was both personal and political. Drawing from her own past at the Australian Tax Office, she emphasized her respect for the public service—a subtle rejection of the Coalition’s failed promise to slash public sector jobs during the campaign.

That is part of my story too, she said. Economic management must be responsible, practical and always focused on delivering value to the taxpayer.

Another stark contrast with past leadership: Ley’s embrace of inclusivity and modernity. From acknowledging First Nations peoples to directly addressing the failures of past campaigns, she’s signalling a new era.

Policy Priorities: Defence, Safety, and Tech Accountability

While much of the party’s policy platform is under review, Ley made clear some immediate priorities:

• Defence spending must rise—potentially to 3.5% of GDP—aligning with U.S. expectations and tackling rising global instability.
• Family violence and child safety are top-tier concerns. Ley delivered an emotional plea: “I understand the pain that comes with coercion and control because I have felt that pain too.”
  She promised not to let the issue “fall down the list of priorities.”
• On technology, she blasted big tech companies for “peddling addictive technology” to children and warned about the growing threats posed by deepfakes and AI tools.

Looking to 2028: “Judge Me by the Next Election, Not Today’s Headlines”

Perhaps the most telling moment of her address came when Ley asked to be judged not by polls, nor media narratives, but by the outcome of the next federal election in 2028.

With her leadership having only narrowly edged out a challenge from Angus Taylor, Ley’s long-term vision may be the party’s best shot at a full-scale comeback.

As we seek to regain trust with all voters… the task before me is to lead a Liberal Party that respects, reflects and represents modern Australia, she concluded.

Whether her candid tone and structural reforms will resonate across the party—and more importantly, with the Australian electorate—remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the old Liberal script has been tossed. And Sussan Ley is writing a new one.