A covert recording device has been found inside a female-only cabin aboard the Royal Australian Navy survey ship HMAS Leeuwin, prompting a joint investigation by military police and civilian authorities while the vessel was berthed in Cairns.
What Defence has confirmed
The Department of Defence said the object was discovered on 11 October while Leeuwin was in port in far north Queensland. In a short statement, the department said it was treating the matter “extremely seriously” and had referred it to the Joint Military Police Unit, which is working with external agencies.
Defence declined to identify the sailors affected, citing privacy and the active inquiry. The ABC reported that the device was located in accommodation reserved for women, intensifying concerns about voyeurism rather than a misplaced piece of kit on a shared mess deck.
Political pressure in Canberra
Opposition MPs moved quickly to demand a timeline for notifying crew members and families. Greens defence spokesman David Shoebridge called the incident “incredibly concerning” and asked whether any footage had been uploaded to the internet before the device was seized.
Defence did not answer that question when contacted by the ABC. The Queensland Police Service and the Australian Federal Police referred inquiries back to the department, signalling that the navy remains the lead public voice for now.
Context aboard Leeuwin
HMAS Leeuwin is a hydrographic survey ship used to chart waters across the Indo-Pacific. Unlike major surface combatants, it carries a relatively small crew and often embarks civilian scientists, which can complicate access control to sleeping quarters.
Navy culture reformers have warned for years that mixed-gender crews need stronger cabin security and clearer reporting channels. This case lands weeks after Defence released updated harassment policies, making the apparent breach a test of whether new rules translate into safer berths.
Investigative steps
Joint Military Police Unit detectives are expected to fingerprint the device, trace storage cards and review shipboard CCTV where cameras exist on passageways. Investigators will also map which personnel had keys or maintenance access to the affected cabin in the 72 hours before the discovery.
Legal experts said charges could range from defence force discipline breaches to state privacy or surveillance offences, depending on whether the recorder was planted deliberately and whether material was shared.
Support for crew
Defence routinely offers counselling through its all-hours support line after serious incidents, though unions have pressed for independent advocates when senior officers are potential witnesses. The ABC understands commanding officers aboard Leeuwin have been told to preserve logs and restrict non-essential movement through the accommodation block.
Families waiting in Western Australia, where Leeuwin is home-ported, said they learned of the investigation through media reports rather than official channels, underscoring communication gaps that parliament’s defence committee may revisit.
What happens next
Defence Minister Richard Marles has not yet spoken publicly about the case. His office told journalists the minister would comment once the Joint Military Police Unit briefs him on preliminary findings.
Until then, Leeuwin remains in Cairns for scheduled maintenance. Commanders must decide whether to rotate crew off the ship to separate potential witnesses, a move that could delay survey tasks planned for the Torres Strait later this month.