HMAS Success sexual misconduct report raises concerns about Navy culture

Melbourne, Jan 25 (ANI): The inquiry into the sexual misconduct aboard HMAS Success has raised serious concerns about Navy culture according to Defence Force chief Angus Houston.

Air Chief Marshal Houston said he had received the 400-page first part of the HMAS Success Commission of Inquiry's report on an alleged sex ring operating onboard the ship during March to May 2009 when it was deployed to the Philippines, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

"On my very quick review, it is clear to me that the report raises very serious issues," News.com.au quoted him as saying.

"It is going to take time to analyse and understand the detail of the findings and conclusions," he said.

Air Chief Marshal Houston said he expected to receive the rest of the report by the middle of the year.

According to ABC Radio, Defence Minister Stephen Smith said it raised "very concerning" issues and would be released publicly in the next few weeks, and that problems with discipline and "so-called tribal culture" had been raised by the inquiry.

"To be blunt about it, (the report) doesn't make good reading, either about the suggestions of individual conduct, or the suggestions of discipline, or the suggestions of a particular type of culture," he said.

"The (Defence) command structure down has zero tolerance for such unacceptable behaviour," he stated. (ANI)