Hidden recording device found aboard Australian navy ship HMAS Leeuwin in Cairns

A hidden video recording device has been found aboard the Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Leeuwin in Cairns, Queensland, according to the Australian Defence Force. The device was located on Sunday in a cabin on the vessel, which remained alongside while the matter was investigated. The incident has prompted a referral to the Joint Military Police and raised questions about privacy and security on board.

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The defence department said it became aware of the device on Wednesday and confirmed that it was taking the matter seriously. It did not say where exactly in the cabin the device was found, and it has not confirmed whether the location was a female-only area. The department said it could not provide further comment while the investigation continued and while protecting the privacy of those affected.

It also said the welfare of individuals remained its priority and that support was ongoing for crew members. Independent senator Jacqui Lambie told the Australian Senate that she had been contacted by personnel with allegations that concealed cameras had recently been found in female sailors' shower facilities. She also said she had been told the vessel had been prevented from sailing while investigations were under way.

Lambie further raised concerns that footage from such cameras may have been uploaded online before the devices were discovered. Those claims have not been independently verified in the material provided. The case matters because it involves a military vessel, the privacy of service personnel and the handling of a potential internal security breach.

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In a naval setting, hidden recording devices can raise concerns not only about personal privacy but also about discipline, trust and operational readiness. The fact that the ship remained alongside while the inquiry continued suggests the issue was treated as significant enough to affect normal activity. The HMAS Leeuwin is part of the Royal Australian Navy, and the incident has drawn attention to the safeguards in place for sailors living and working aboard military ships.

The referral to the Joint Military Police indicates the matter has moved beyond an internal complaint and into a formal investigative process. That step suggests authorities are treating the allegation as a possible breach requiring examination by military law enforcement. What remains unclear is who placed the device, whether any footage was recorded or shared, and whether the cabin was connected to the allegations about shower facilities.

Defence has not confirmed those details, and the investigation is still ongoing. The next developments are likely to depend on the findings of the Joint Military Police and any further statement from the defence department.

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