Navy sailor placed on paid leave after hidden camera found on ship
A service member was suspended with pay after a covert video recorder was discovered in an all-female cabin on the HMAS Leeuwin while docked in Cairns.
During a stop in Cairns, a hidden video recorder was found inside an all-female cabin aboard the HMAS Leeuwin on October 11. Authorities identified a navy member as the suspect and placed the individual on paid standby, a standard procedure while investigations proceed, according to Chief of Navy Matthew Buckley. The Joint Military Police Unit and Australian Federal Police are leading the probe, with Defence stating it treats the matter with utmost seriousness.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy described the behavior as reprehensible and harmful to the dignity of Royal Australian Navy personnel. Senator Jacqui Lambie, a veteran, disclosed that a former navy member had alerted her to the incident and warned that footage might have been posted online, though Buckley said no evidence of sharing has been found so far. An audit confirmed no other vessels in the fleet contain similar devices.
Why it matters
The case raises concerns about privacy and conduct standards within Australia's armed forces.
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