Australia Investigates Hidden Camera Found in Women’s Bathroom on Navy Ship
The Australian Defence Force is reporting that a person of interest has been identified and is cooperating with its investigation into a hidden camera that was found aboard one of its vessels. The camera located in a women’s bathroom on HMAS Leeuwin has turned into a national embarrassment and is being treated as an act of sexual violence.
The video recording device was discovered aboard HMAS Leeuwin on October 11 while the ship was at its berth in Cairns, Queensland. The device had been planted in the shower facilities of female sailors.
The Australian Defence Force, which described the discovery of the device as the “most despicable betrayal of trust,” said the ship’s program had been altered to enable a rapid and rigorous investigation by the Joint Military Police Unit working with civilian authorities. The Warrant Officer of the Navy was also in Cairns to support the ship’s company.
Commissioned in 2000, the 71-meter HMAS Leeuwin is the lead ship of the Leeuwin-class of hydrographic survey vessels. The ship, which can accommodate 46 crew, is mainly deployed for hydrographic duties, although at times she’s called to carry out border protection operations.
Together with her sister ship Melville, Leeuwin is equipped with multi-beam echo sounders and the ability to support a helicopter, and carry three nine-meter survey motor boats, all for survey operations. The surveys are designed to make the passage of vessels safer and help to protect Australia's ocean environment.
Vice Admiral Matt Buckley, the Chief of the Navy, said, “The location of the recording device is the most despicable betrayal of trust and is fundamentally misaligned with the Navy’s values.”
“You have my assurance and commitment that we will tackle this act of sexual violence with all of our energy. Any perpetrator will be held to account. Further, you should all know that eradicating sexual violence in our workplace is fundamental to the fighting efficiency of our Navy,” he said.
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The Navy reports it is also undertaking an audit of all its bathrooms across the fleet.
Political leaders are calling out the incident and demanding to know how long the camera was in place and how many sailors might have been involved in the incident.
