Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee, , 1:50:06 to 1:56:00
Updates on the investigation into an illegal camera found on HMAS Leeuwin and the subsequent audit of bathroom facilities across the naval fleet.
Topics: Workplace culture, Public safety
Speakers: Mark Hammond, Jacqui Lambie, Meghan Quinn, Raff Ciccone, Unknown Speaker
>> Uh Senator Admiral Hammond, Chief of Defense Force. Uh can I just start by personally acknowledging your service uh in uniform uh and thank you for it and your advocacy for our people and particularly noteworthy uh shining a light on women's health issues. Uh it has made um it's made an impact. So, thank you. With respect to um the HMAS Leuen incident, I know you were not in the room when I made my opening statement uh this morning >> uh where I briefed the chair and the and the senators here that the the audit of the entire fleet has been completed. No other devices have been found. The investigation remains ongoing. Uh the member has been stood aside and the ship is at sea on operations.
>> Okay, I did miss that. Sorry, it must be when I was coming up. I was watching some of that. Do you know whether that's gone across the other forces as well? Has the air force done the same? Has done the same?
>> That has been directed that to be honest the service chiefs were had preempted the order. Uh our reflexes to take action as a leadership team. Um I I have not yet had a closure report on the other two services.
>> Okay. When do you expect that closure report from the other two services? Do you have any idea?
>> I'll follow up during the break. Back to
you, Senator. Do you know how many investigations, this might be an IGF thing, do you know how many investigations relating to an alleged act of military sexual violence against a member of the Navy? Um, how Yeah. Uh, are currently being conducted by the Joint Military Police Unit? Do we have numbers of that on across the
>> Uh, Senator, can I take that on notice? Uh, I think that the
>> we Yeah,
>> let me come back to you and we'll
we do track uh investigations numbers against all those categories um both on the APS side and the ADF side. Uh so we will have those numbers somewhere and we can definitely take it on notice.
>> Okay. And can I have the numbers on whether those issues have been resolved? I don't need to know the case names or anything but um
>> so we track we track incences reported incidents uh as they go through processes and then the different
I may my press would be to take it on notice so I can give you a foulsome answer. Uh there's a difference between allegations and outcomes. So I'd like to give you the the the fuller appreciation of the number of investigations and those that have been closed.
>> Okay, that would be good. Can you tell me how it runs? um when a when there's sexual violence against a member uh whether that's Navy or I'm not sure if it it should be um
>> it's service one
>> Barkley in here answering these questions. I mean I'm happy for you to answer them Admiral. Um but how does it work? Like if there's an how long does it take to get to the top? How long does it take to get to you? Uh,
Senator, um,
>> tell tell me what tell me the what the procedure is when something happens. How >> from that point that it's happened when they find out with it ship, land, air force, whatever, how long does it take to get to the top?
>> Minutes or hours? Senator, I have a critical commander information requirement that that requires the service chiefs to report to me in a timely manner any allegations relating to sexual violence. uh in relation to the Luen incident. Uh I was um flying overseas on Monday and uh you can imagine my reaction to the report uh particularly noting my previous role and um and yes I was advised in a very timely manner uh and I would like to commend Admiral Buckley for his leadership in responding to this incident and particularly the the the support to our personnel who are affecting HMAS Lu. I'd also like to acknowledge the um professionalism and teamwork displayed by the crew of HMAS Luen in uh in resolving this incident, bringing it to our attention in a timely manner and allowing us to deal with it.
>> Okay. Can you um tell me whether as soon as these cameras were found,
>> Senator, it was one camera for the record.
>> Sorry, one camera. uh soon as this camera was found, how many days did it actually take to remove those women off the ship? What was the lag time between did that happen after I come out and spoke? What what was what happened in that three or four days?
>> Senator, I I'll ask Buckley to come to the table to speak to the specifics if he can whilst recognizing the sensitivity to the ongoing investigation. What what I would note is that the investigation was underway before you drew national attention to
>> No, no, I understand that
>> and and my preference if you would indulge me would be to where you become aware of an active investigation perhaps bring it to my attention first.
>> Yes, I'm going to do this after this because I need to see you because I do not want to speak about some of the other things I've heard in the last week. I do want to speak to you about that. I >> think one kicks up, nobody wins out of it, but I want this fixed because I just think, you know, >> my thought would be I'm working on that bill very hard that I have produced and I'm listening to amendments. We've been through it. It's maybe it's time to take this out of defense's hands. >> This is not what we're training for.
>> Senator, you will find an ally in me. I have >> one of my children. In fact, >> I'm working on that. 80% of the three stars in this room have partners or children serving in the Australian Defense Force. I assure you we are absolutely committed to eradicating sexual violence in the Australian Defense.
>> Yeah, Senator, I'm just mindful of time. I'm happy to come back to you, but you got um I'm assuming you've got other questions on this matter or matters relating to um your line of questioning. >> So, I'll have to come back to you if that's all right. >> Okay. Yeah. All right, Senator Paterson,