THE Australian Defence Force has failed to properly investigate and punish dozens of serving members allegedly linked to a social media campaign designed to expose and intimidate homosexual personnel.

Senior ADF leaders and the office of the former defence minister John Faulkner received a formal complaint in August last year about a Facebook page created to expose what the page labelled "bum bandits getting around the ADF''. But eight months later the investigation into the page and the dozens of ADF personnel who signed on as "friends" has been shelved and none of the serving members associated with the gay-hate campaign has been disciplined.

One of those publicly targeted by the Facebook page, created under the pseudonym "Steve Austin" and featuring the Army's rising sun insignia, was Major Paul Morgan, an army psychologist who has served in Iraq.

Major Morgan and four other ADF personnel, including two special forces soldiers, were named on the Facebook page - which is believed to have been taken down - as having made a "filthy lifestyle decision".

"This page has been created to inform current and past serving members of the ADF who is 'biting the pillow'," the page said.

It allegedly had links to extremely violent and pornographic videos on YouTube showing homosexuals being executed superimposed over images of Anzac Cove in Gallipoli and flag-draped coffins of dead Australian troops. At least one YouTube clip that attacks the sexuality of a serving officer remains online.

Major Morgan, who has been commended for his work with soldiers affected by the suicide of Private Jacob Kovco, said he was unable to discuss the hate campaign. The ADF has strict rules on speaking to the media.

However, Major Morgan said life as a gay man in the army was not easy. "I have sacrificed my whole adult life to the army and the inaction in this case is soul-destroying," he said.

The Herald understands the ADF investigation into the anti-gay campaign stalled because of inadequate resources, with no one assigned to the job at various stages over the past eight months.

The revelations over the stalled inquiry come after the Defence Minister, Stephen Smith, announced a series of inquiries into attitudes and behaviour in the ADF, as well as a federal police investigation into a webcam sex scandal at the ADF Academy. One inquiry will examine ADF policies on the use of social media such as Facebook and YouTube.

Friends of Major Morgan said he had encountered death threats and other forms of intimidation since the ADF and government were notified of the campaign.

A Defence spokeswoman said the matter ''is still the subject of ongoing investigation'', adding that Defence had strict policies on the use of social media.

''The attitudes and behaviours described are contrary to everything that the Australian Defence Force stands for and has achieved in welcoming and supporting diversity across the organisation.''

She said the ADF had allowed members who are gay or lesbian to serve openly since 1992 and in 2009 had moved to ensure that couples in same-sex interdependent relationships were entitled to the same benefits as married couples.