Defence chief urges senator to refer ongoing harassment probe to senior officers

Australia’s Chief of the Defence Force, Admiral Mark Hammond, addressed Senator Jacqui Lambie during Senate estimates on Thursday after the senator raised the discovery of a hidden recording device in a women’s shower on the naval vessel HMAS Leeuwin. The device was located on 11 October while the ship was docked in Cairns, Queensland.

Senator Lambie, a former navy member and military veteran, disclosed the incident on the Senate floor three days after the discovery, prompting a public statement from the Defence Force confirming the matter. Hammond said the investigation had already begun before the public disclosure and suggested that future concerns be directed to senior defence officials first.

The Defence Force confirmed that the alleged perpetrator, a former navy member, was stood down without pay on 19 October pending the outcome of the investigation. Navy Chief Vice Admiral Mark Buckley stated there was no evidence that any footage from the device had been uploaded online.

Hammond also rejected a suggestion from Senator Lambie that sexual‑violence investigations be removed from the Defence Force’s jurisdiction, noting that a majority of senior officers have personal connections to service members and reaffirming the force’s commitment to eradicating sexual violence.

The investigation remains ongoing, with Defence officials indicating that standard procedures are being followed to determine the circumstances surrounding the placement of the device and any related misconduct.