DEATH threats have been made against Defence Minister Stephen Smith over his announcement of a series of inquiries into a culture of abuse in the military.

And a whistleblower has been anonymously warned to "pull his head in".

Federal police will examine the possibility that some of the calls were made by serving members of the Australian Defence Force.

The investigation comes amid reports the ADF failed to discipline dozens of serving members allegedly linked to an online gay-hate campaign.

Sources said Mr Smith's office had received numerous threatening calls and emails in the wake of his tough stance against sex abuse in the military.

His office has also fielded dozens of calls and emails from people who say they have been damaged by their military service.

"They are all being logged and will be investigated," a government source said.

An unnamed barrister who says he was sexually assaulted with a broom handle and bashed by senior cadets at the Australian Defence Force Academy - including several who are now senior military officers - received a threatening phone call on Monday evening.

The anonymous caller asked for him by name, and then said he had a message for the lawyer: "Tell him to pull his head in. He is making himself very unpopular."

The barrister said he was not intimidated by the phone call, which he is sure came from within the military.

"What did they expect me to do, stand to attention and promise to be quiet?" he said.

He also said he had received no official contact from Defence, despite a sworn statement in 2008 by an eyewitness to his assault.

Defence yesterday confirmed it had received the 12-page document, obtained by the Herald Sun, and had investigated the claims.

Mr Smith was unaware of the statement until he read yesterday's newspapers.

Former soldier Oliver Thomas, from Wollongong, came forward after reading about the barrister.

He said he was also hounded out, on a trumped-up charge of pointing his loaded weapon at a superior officer, after he complained about racism.

"The first thing I was told at Singleton army base was 'If you get a chance to kill an African, do it, because it is the best feeling you will ever have'," Mr Thomas said.

Originally published as Death threats over sex abuse inquiry