Australia's Defence Force has referred an investigation to a joint military police unit after a hidden video recording device was found aboard Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Leeuwin in Cairns, Queensland.
The device was discovered in a cabin on Sunday while the vessel was stationed in Cairns. Details of the incident became public on Wednesday. The ship has remained in port while the investigation continues and crew members are provided with immediate support.
The discovery has prompted concerns about whether female sailors were secretly recorded in private areas. The Defence Force has confirmed the incident and said it is treating the matter seriously. It has not confirmed that any person was recorded or that footage was distributed online.
Concerns raised in Parliament
Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie brought the privacy concerns before Parliament. Lambie, a former service member, said some military personnel had contacted her about hidden cameras allegedly found in shower areas used by female soldiers.
She also raised the possibility that recordings could have been uploaded online before the devices were discovered. Her questions included whether female sailors had been filmed without their knowledge or consent, and whether any recordings might still be held by someone or shared on the internet.
Those claims have not been independently verified. The Defence Department has also not clarified whether the recording device was found in a particular area designated for female sailors.
What the investigation will examine
The joint military police investigation is expected to establish who placed the device and whether it captured private footage. It will also examine whether any recorded material was shared online.
The Defence Department said it does not tolerate unacceptable behaviour. It said the safety and wellbeing of affected people were priorities and that necessary assistance was being made available.
The department has declined to provide further information while the investigation is under way and the privacy of people involved is being protected. The ship's continued presence in port allows the inquiry to proceed while support is provided to crew members.
The available information does not establish the identity of anyone responsible, whether private footage was captured, or whether any material reached the internet. Those questions remain part of the military police inquiry.
Conclusion
A hidden recording device found aboard HMAS Leeuwin has led to a military police investigation and privacy concerns involving female sailors. The Defence Force says support is being provided, while key questions about the device and any recordings remain unresolved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Where was the device found?
It was found in a cabin aboard HMAS Leeuwin, which was stationed in Cairns, Queensland.
Q. Who is investigating the incident?
The case has been referred to a joint military police unit.
Q. Were female sailors confirmed to have been recorded?
No. The possibility has been raised, but the claims have not been independently confirmed.
Q. Was footage shared online?
That has not been established. Investigators will examine whether any material was uploaded or shared.
Q. Why has the ship remained in port?
The vessel has been kept in port while the investigation continues and crew members receive immediate support.
Q. What has the Defence Department said?
It said the incident was being treated seriously, unacceptable behaviour was not tolerated, and the safety and wellbeing of affected people were priorities.
