Recording device found on Australian navy vessel prompts sexual misconduct probe
A video recorder was discovered in a cabin on the Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Leeuwin while docked in Cairns, leading to a joint military and civilian investigation.
During a stop in Cairns, Queensland, a video recording device was found in the cabin of the Royal Australian Navy vessel HMAS Leeuwin. Defence announced the find, noting that the incident has been handed to the Joint Military Police Unit and is being investigated alongside civilian police. Senator Jacqui Lambie, who received a tip about the device being in the shower area, warned that any captured footage could already be circulating online and called for a zero-tolerance policy on harassment and assault in the military.
She also advised potential recruits to reconsider enlistment until reforms are evident. In response, the government named former party leader Natasha Stott Despoja to lead a fresh inquiry into sexual violence in the defence force, implementing a key royal commission recommendation. Defence emphasized that individual welfare remains a priority while limiting further comment to protect privacy.
Why it matters
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about sexual misconduct in the Australian defence forces and may drive policy reforms.
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