Corporal Dougie Hughes Changes or improvements made to the NZ Defence Force's operations and policies following the self-inflicted death of a gay soldier remain hidden under a veil of secrecy with the NZDF's top soldier saying that divulging such information would compromise a coroner's order. In April 2012 Corporal Dougie Hughes, a promising soldier who appears to have been struggling with his sexuality within the NZDF environment, took his own life whilst on active duty in Afghanistan. An NZDF Court of Inquiry report was ordered not to be made public by a coroner with a history of anti-gay activism, Gordon Matenga, on grounds of justice and personal privacy. Matenga also hushed up his own report. However, it subsequently emerged that Hughes may have been infatuated with a fellow soldier and that when that came to the attention of a superior officer the way the situation was handled distressed him greatly and he took his own life shortly after. Hughes's mother and whanau, backed up by supporters such as Labour's defence spokesperson Phil Goff have sought to have the circumstances of Hughes death made public. But a October 2013 Solicitor General's investigation upheld Matenga's order. Asked what recommendations have been made to the NZDF to improve its handling of such situations, or what changes have been made as a result of Hughes' death Lieutenant General Tim Keating says he cannot comment "without compromising the Coroner's order." Asked by GayNZ.com Daily News whether the NZDF believes all aspects of matters regarding Hughes' sexuality, state of mind and behaviour were dealt with appropriately, Keating again declined to answer, again citing the Coroner's order. However, commenting more generally when asked whether the situation Hughes found himself in would in future be handled in a way which does not endanger the soldier or any other employee, Keating says the NZAF is "committed to managing the risks our people face whether they are on training activities or on operations, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender." He also highlights the subsequent creation of the Overwatch glbti peer support organsation with the NZDF. Keating acknowledges that the period following Hughes' death has been "a difficult time for the Hughes family." He says his sympathies go out to them and that the NZDF has "endeavoured to work closely with Corporal Hughes' family and to act in accordance with their wishes." Based on further details from Keating GayNZ.com will next weekend publish a background feature illustrating how the NZDF sees itself in regard to its glbti staff.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 12th July 2014 - 9:32pm