If you know something ... Report it.
If you know something ... Report it.
Clear your conscience.
Allegations remain unanswered
When serious allegations of abuse were made against some Operation Sovereign Borders personnel in 2014, those serving were denied the chance to speak, due to a policy of secrecy by the Australian Government.
At the time we were inundated with claims made by asylum seekers and refugees against some Sovereign Borders Personnel.
They identified Australian Personnel by name from anonymised photos, and gave specific details of what they had done.
Despite multiple witness reports, the Federal Government refused to provide evidence to refute the allegations.
Journalists were attacked for merely reporting the allegations and attempting to get to the bottom of them, while those serving were gagged.
At the time ADF personnel serving on Operation Sovereign Borders had been given immunity from prosecution for crimes committed while undertaking boat turn backs.
Now, with the passage of time, there's a chance for you to come forward.
If you know something, report it, with the safety of confidentiality.
The purpose of this website is to find out if what is alleged to have happened did happen. If so, who was responsible?
If you served on Sovereign Borders and feel that lines were crossed, by even just one person, please contact us.
We have interviews with multiple witnesses who have identified alleged perpetrators from a series of photographs of ADF personnel who were serving in those turn-back operations, but that is one side of the story.
If you served in Sovereign Borders, now is your chance to speak up.
The allegations made against a select few individuals involved range from: the deliberate burning of asylum seekers' hands and denial of basic human rights, such as access to toilets, to beatings and low-level "torture" by forced sun exposure.
You may have seen or heard something during turn-back operations - perhaps something you disagreed with or something that never felt right.
Back then you were denied the chance to speak out, but here is your chance.
We want to hear about it and finally give you the chance to get it off your chest.
Seven years have passed, personnel have moved on and relationships have changed.
You may no longer be bound by the orders of those who were once in charge.
If you are willing to say what you know, we want to hear from you. This can be done privately and confidentially.
Please contact us safely and privately with the contact form below.
Or send an email to us at this private email:
Once contact is established we can provide you with encrypted messaging options for added security.
This is not a government website, it is by journalists seeking the truth.
Forgotten boats
Despite the so-called "burnt hands" boat that caused all the headlines, there was a second boat that was turned back by the same boarding parties and crew in late 2013.
Just as detectives isolate witnesses, we isolated the passengers from each other, to conduct individual interviews.
That way passengers could not share stories/versions of events with other passengers.
When shown photos of the personnel from HMAS Toowoomba serving on their turn-back operation, their stories of how the personnel behaved matched up remarkably.
We call it The Forgotten Boat - the one that didn't get reported.
The evidence those people gave, including identifying individuals by name from photos, was compelling.
Any info you wish to offer:
Use the private contact form below or email:
Once contact is established we can provide you with encrypted messaging options for added security.
Most are innocent
We know the majority of personnel from Operation Sovereign Borders did not mistreat the people they were turning back.
In fact, some of the asylum seekers we spoke to spoke highly of some of the identified OSB and ADF personnel.
We know that at least 99% of you carried out orders with distinction and treated people with respect.
But a small number of people were identified, by photo, as having allegedly mistreated their fellow humans.
If you served on Sovereign Borders and feel that moral lines were crossed by even just one person, please contact us.
Use the private contact form below or email:
Once contact is established we can provide you with encrypted messaging options for added security.