THE nation's military watchdog is investigating whether the Australian Defence Force has gravely mistreated the soldier who first blew the whistle on drug use in the ranks.

Air defence guard Nathan Moore has been hiding in safe houses along Australia's east coast after being bashed and receiving death threats since he exposed drug use at Queensland's Amberley RAAF base in 2002.

The RAAF eventually demoted him, claiming that his previous promotion was an "administrative error".

The inspector-general will also look at allegations that when Mr Moore complained of threats made against him by his military colleagues, the RAAF told him it was a matter for civil authorities and then denied him access to legal assistance.

Mr Moore says he made his decision to expose drug use at Amberley after seeing his fellow airfield defence guards smoking dope and popping ecstasy pills during live fire exercises.


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,10093585%255E601,00.html