Sexist commentary towards Australia’s first female Army Chief Susan Coyle dubbed ‘despicable and disgraceful’

Sexist commentary directed towards Australia’s first female Army chief has been branded “despicable and disgraceful” a day after Lt-Lt-Gen Susan Coyle was named as the first woman to lead the organisation in its 125-year history.

Shortly after the Prime Minister announced General Coyle’s historic appointment on Monday, a wave of derogatory messages began appearing on military forums and online news articles, with some social media users labelling her selection “tokenistic”.

Former solider Lyndsay Freeman, a board director for the Women Veterans Australia network, says she was appalled at the hundreds of responses that appeared on the group’s web page after it publicly welcomed her promotion to the Army’s top job.

“Absolutely frigging ropable,” Ms Freeman wrote. “A highly competent, proven and inspirational military leader was appointed as our new Chief of Army. I’ve never met a single person who doesn’t have the highest level of respect and admiration for General Coyle.”

“She’s awesome. What I read disgusted me. Hundreds and hundreds of comments. One after the frigging next. Just sexist, derogatory rubbish,” the former Army Major wrote..

“Keyboard losers showing their ignorance, loudly and publicly If you hold these types of views, you should be embarrassed. If this positive historic milestone bothers you, ask yourself why,” she added.

Ms Freeman’s comments were echoed by Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy and other members of the Albanese Government who also hit back at the online trolls and insisted the current Chief of Joint Capabilities was clearly the best candidate.

“It’s despicable and disgraceful. I’ve worked with General Coyle over the last four years. She’s incredibly professional, intelligent, a soldier who lives the values of the Australian Defence Force,” Mr Conroy told ABC radio.

“She was the best-qualified candidate to be the Chief of Army, and she will be the first service chief who is female, but she wasn’t selected because of that. She was selected because she was the best candidate.”

“She’s had a hugely distinguished service, and anyone who’s worked with General Coyle knows what a great professional she is. So those people need to have a good, hard look at themselves.

“Instead of spreading hate, they should look at the qualities of the candidates selected, and General Coyle will be a brilliant Chief of Army.”

Asked if he had a message for any serving ADF members who might not want a woman leading the army, the minister said the ADF had “gone well beyond that sort of mentality”.

“We’ve got women at senior roles throughout the ADF, and they’re playing a really important role, just as men are in the ADF. It’s an incredibly professional organisation that I’m incredibly proud of,” he said.

General Coyle’s elevation to Army Chief was unveiled on Monday as part of a sweeping changes to senior military positions which will take effect in July, including Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond becoming the next Chief of Defence.

The Nightly can also reveal planning is underway for General Coyle to represent outgoing Defence Chief Admiral David Johnston overseas at this month’s Anzac Day service at Gallipoli.

During her military career General Coyle has served across the tactical, operational and strategic levels as well as in command roles, including as the head of information warfare, commander forces command and senior deployments to the Middle East.

On the Defence Department’s website, the decorated senior officer describes her hobbies as including attending musical theatre, reading anything and travelling anywhere”, and the mother of “three wonderful and mostly charming millennials”.