A hidden recording device has been discovered in shower facilities used by female sailors aboard the Royal Australian Navy vessel HMAS Leeuwin, while the ship was docked in Cairns in far north Queensland. The disturbing find, made on Sunday, has prompted a formal military police investigation, a fleet-wide audit of bathroom facilities, and urgent calls from politicians for an independent body to handle such cases.
How the Hidden Camera Discovery Came to Light
The incident became public knowledge on Wednesday morning after Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie, a former Army member, used parliamentary privilege to raise it in the Senate. She said she had been alerted to the situation by a former navy member who contacted her via email.
Defence confirmed the discovery in a statement released Wednesday afternoon, acknowledging it had become aware of the recording device while the ship remained docked in Cairns. The vessel was kept in port to allow investigators to gather evidence and to ensure immediate support was provided to affected crew members.
"It takes this incident extremely seriously and does not tolerate unacceptable behaviour in any form," Defence said in its statement. The department added that professional support was available to personnel and that the welfare of individuals remained its priority.
The matter was referred to the Joint Military Police Unit, with Defence also working alongside civilian authorities. A defence force member has since been identified as a person of interest and, according to a Defence spokesperson, is assisting the military police unit with inquiries.
Fears of Wider Problem Across the Naval Fleet
Senator Lambie told the Senate she had been informed that footage captured by the device was uploaded online before the camera was found. She also flagged concerns from her source that similar devices could be present on other navy vessels.
"How many of our female sailors have been recorded in their most private moments?" Lambie asked during her Senate address. "How much footage has been distributed so far, without knowledge or consent?"
Since the incident was made public, Lambie said additional individuals had come forward with accounts of similar incidents occurring over recent months. "I should tell you that I'm surprised, but I'm not, which is really unfortunate," she said in comments made Thursday.
In response to those broader fears, Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Matt Buckley announced that an audit of all bathroom facilities across the entire naval fleet was underway. He did not hold back in condemning whoever was responsible.
"This act is the most despicable betrayal of trust and is fundamentally misaligned with our values," Vice Admiral Buckley said. "We will tackle this act of sexual violence with all of our energy. Any perpetrator will be held to account."
The discovery has drawn renewed attention to longstanding concerns about conditions and conduct within Australian military environments, with advocates arguing that cultural problems within Defence have persisted for too long without adequate resolution.
Calls for an Independent Investigation Body
Lambie was pointed in her criticism of Defence's ability to handle the legal and disciplinary aspects of such cases internally. She argued that the only meaningful solution was to remove these matters from Defence's jurisdiction entirely.
"This is a culture that, unfortunately, Defence has not been able to clean up, and it hasn't even come close," she said. "The only way to fix this problem is to take the legal system outside of Defence's hands. Their job is to fight in a war, and they don't deal with this very well when it comes to the legal system."
Lambie called for an independent body with the authority and expertise to properly handle cases of this nature, saying that internal investigations alone were insufficient to address systemic issues.
Federal minister Anika Wells also responded to the discovery, expressing sympathy for those on board the ship who had learned of the breach and for anyone who may have been directly victimised.
"I really feel for all of the people who are on that ship who are learning this, and the people that may have been victims of this act," she said. "You deserve to be safe in your workplace, and the rise of tech-facilitated abuse, particularly upon women, is horrific."
What Happens Next
The investigation remains active, with Defence indicating it is unable to provide further comment in order to protect the privacy of those affected. The person of interest identified in connection with the incident is continuing to assist military police with their inquiries.
The fleet-wide audit of bathroom facilities ordered by the Chief of Navy is ongoing, as officials work to determine whether additional devices may have been placed elsewhere. The government has indicated it is monitoring the situation closely, and pressure is mounting for structural reforms to ensure military personnel, particularly women, are protected from this form of abuse.
For anyone in the Australian Defence Force seeking support, professional assistance is available through Defence at any time.
