AUSTRALIA’S top-ranking officer, defence chief General David Hurley, has warned Tasmanian senator-elect and former soldier Jacqui Lambie against using the media to criticise the military.

In an unprecedented intervention by a serving officer, General Hurley wrote to the Palmer United Party senator-elect after she ­issued a release alleging abuse was an “intractable problem” in the force.

Ms Lambie, a 10-year army veteran, has demanded the Government extend the Defence Abuse ­Response Taskforce ­indefinitely to enable all those affected to come forward.

“It’s clear from information that’s become public, and infor­mation I’ve received privately, that abuse, including sexual abuse in Australia’s ­Defence Force is an intractable problem,” her release said.

She also said a high level and “poisonous” culture of cover-up within Defence had stopped abuse victims speaking out.

In his letter, General Hurley said he was alarmed by Ms Lambie’s use of emotive language to make accusations against senior military officers.

“I encourage you in future to provide me an opportunity to address any matters of concern you may have rather than becoming aware of them through a media release,” he said.

Ms Lambie reacted angrily to the letter’s tone and accused the chief of using “patronising and condescending” language.

“For the head of Australia’s military, uninvited, to interfere with the public work of a democratically elected representative – attacks the very foundation of our system of democratic government,” she said.

Ms Lambie was discharged from the Army on medical grounds and had a long-running compensation battle.

Only last month the out-going defence chief criticised Opposition defence spokesman Stephen Conroy for his “political cover up’’ ­attack on the commander of Operation Sovereign Borders, Lieutenant General Angus Campbell.

Under the Defence Act, military officers work for the elected government through the Minister of Defence.