Recording device discovered on navy ship, sparking investigation

An investigation has been launched into the discovery of a recording device in the cabin of a navy ship, raising concerns the military has not done enough to combat sexual assault and harassment.

Defence said in a statement it was “aware that a video recording device had been located in the cabin of Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Leeuwin” while the ship was docked alongside Cairns in Queensland.

“The incident was referred to the Joint Military Police Unit and Defence is working with civilian authorities,” Defence said.

“Defence takes this incident extremely seriously and does not tolerate unacceptable behaviour in any form.”

Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie told the Senate earlier in the day she had received a letter from a person who said a device had been found in the “shower facilities”.

“Even more disturbing are claims that footage from these cameras may have been uploaded online before the cameras were discovered,” Senator Lambie said.

It is unclear whether any footage has been uploaded online.

Lambie, who served for nearly 11 years in the army before entering politics, later called for the defence force to take a “zero tolerance” approach to abuse, urging potential recruits not to enlist unless the situation improved.

“Get control of what is going on in the defence force,” she told reporters.

“Enough is enough. Don’t enlist until it’s fixed. I cannot stress that enough. Do not let your kids in there, and certainly do not let your daughters or granddaughters enlist until it’s fixed.”

Defence said in its statement that the “welfare of individuals remains Defence’s priority, and support is ongoing”.

“As the matter is currently under investigation and to protect the privacy of the affected individuals, Defence is unable to provide further comment at this time,” it said.

The government has appointed former Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja to lead a new inquiry into sexual violence within the defence force, implementing a key recommendation of the royal commission into defence and veteran suicide.

The royal commission found sexual misconduct was a “systemic issue” within the defence force that needed further examination.

Greens Leader David Shoebridge said defence personnel “must be feeling this terrible sense of violation of privacy” after the incident.

“My hope here is that defence has been reaching out to any women who potentially had their privacy grossly breached like this,” he said.

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