By Lucinda Garbutt-Young in Canberra

A Navy member who allegedly planted a recording device has been stood down with pay.

A video recording device was found in an all-female cabin of the HMAS Leeuwin while it was docked in Cairns on October 11.

An individual was then identified as the suspect and was stood down, Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Matthew Buckley confirmed on Monday.

He defended the person continuing to receive pay as a “normal convention” when an investigation is ongoing.

The incident is being investigated by the Joint Military Police Unit and Defence, with help from the Australian Federal Police.

“Defence takes this incident extremely seriously and does not tolerate unacceptable behaviour in any form,” a department spokesperson said last week.

The sentiment was echoed by Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy, who said the government had a “very strong view” that the behaviour was “reprehensible”.

“(It) undermined the dignity and privacy of Royal Australian Navy personnel. It was completely unacceptable, and it has no place in the modern Australian Defence Force,” he said.

Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie, a veteran, revealed details last week when she told the upper house she had been contacted by a former member of the Navy with allegations that the recording device had been found.

“I was also told this had occurred recently and prevented the vessel from sailing while investigations were ongoing,” she said.

“Even more disturbing are claims that footage from these cameras may have been uploaded online before the cameras were discovered.”

But Vice Admiral Buckley said there was no evidence at this stage that the material had been shared.

“I can’t go into any specific details about the investigation, but I’ve seen no evidence of any sharing of that information,” he said.

“But as I said, the investigation is ongoing and it’s important that we don’t compromise that, such that we can take the appropriate actions needed.”

An audit of the Navy fleet confirmed no other devices had been planted.

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