Person of Interest Identified in HMAS Leeuwin Camera Incident | Mariner News

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) reports a person of interest has been identified and is cooperating with its investigation into a hidden camera discovered on HMAS Leeuwin. The device, found in a women’s bathroom on the hydrographic survey vessel, is being treated as an act of sexual violence and has become a national embarrassment for the ADF.

The video recording device was located on October 11 in the shower facilities of female sailors aboard HMAS Leeuwin while the ship was at its berth in Cairns, Queensland. The ADF described the discovery as the “most despicable betrayal of trust.”

In response to the incident, the ship’s operational program has been altered to enable a rapid and rigorous investigation. The Joint Military Police Unit is working with civilian authorities, while the Warrant Officer of the Navy traveled to Cairns to support the ship’s company, underscoring the gravity of the incident’s impact on morale and trust within the service.

Vice Admiral Matt Buckley, Chief of the Navy, stated that the placement of the recording device is “fundamentally misaligned with the Navy.” The incident highlights profound concerns about the safety and integrity of naval environments for female personnel.

HMAS Leeuwin, commissioned in 2000, is the lead ship of its class, measuring 71 meters and accommodating 46 crew. Primarily engaged in hydrographic duties to enhance safe vessel passage and protect Australia’s marine environment, the ship also undertakes border protection operations. The disruption to its schedule for the investigation will temporarily affect these critical maritime survey and security capabilities.