Ursula Stephens (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I present the second report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee on equity and diversity health checks in the Royal Australian Navy.

Ordered that the report be printed.

I move:

That the Senate take note of the report.

During the HMAS Success's deployment between March and May 2009, the commanding officer of the ship became aware of reports of a number of incidents of unacceptable behaviour that eventually caused him to contact fleet headquarters for support and advice. The response from fleet command set in motion a series of events that eventually culminated in the landing of three senior sailors in Singapore on 9 May 2009. Rather than resolve the problems, this action attracted widespread and sensational publicity, damaged the good standing and character of certain crew members, cast doubt on the reputation of the ship's company and more broadly damaged Navy's image.

In part 1 of its report the committee looked at the circumstances that caused the CO to seek outside help to deal with the problems that had been brought to his attention. It considered the equity and diversity team that was sent to assist the CO, the veracity of its damning report and the conduct of some crew members and the subsequent landing of three senior sailors in Singapore.

In the second part of its report the committee focuses on the administrative and disciplinary processes that followed the removal of the sailors from Success. The committee finds that both processes were deficient.