Former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick has defended the top ADF chief for his "mistakes" after he came under fire for sexual assault advice to cadets.
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Broderick, who conducted the review of treatment of women in Defence and founded the Male Champions of Change organisation, said Defence Force chief Angus Campbell had led strong initiatives within Defence, but that she was surprised by his remarks.
"I think like many people I was surprised, because I know the chief of the defence force to be a strong agent of change on gender equality," Ms Broderick said on ABC News.
"I know his primary belief is if we're going to stop sexual assault, it's about men changing behaviour and it's not on women."
General Campbell told cadets to avoid becoming "prey" to sexual predators by considering a range of factors to mitigate risk to themselves and their classmates.
Speaking to trainee officers at Canberra's Australian Defence Force Academy, the general urged them to protect themselves by heeding the "Four As" - alcohol, out after midnight, alone and attractive.
The advice was condemned as unhelpful and outdated by sexual assault support groups and survivor advocate Grace Tame for putting the onus on victims instead of perpetrators.
General Campbell is a member of Male Champions of Change and still has its founder's support, Ms Broderick confirmed.
"That's an initiative which is imperfect, absolutely, but where we're trying to get senior men, men with power and influence, to actually step up and take leadership on gender equality," she said.
"They're not champions because they have got this sorted, they are champions because they want to lead tangible action. I think they make mistakes."
The Defence Force now has more women than ever before, she said, in part because of General Campbell's action on culture.
"I know him to be a strong agent of change, but like all of us, we're human and we make mistakes."
Politicians from both sides have distanced themselves from the ADF chief's advice.
Acting Defence Minister Marise Payne said the advice was "not the words I would have used", but did not believe the general had intended to victim blame.
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