The Australian Defence Force confirmed on Thursday that a service member has been identified as a “person of interest” in the investigation into a video recording device located in a women’s bathroom aboard the Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Leeuwin, docked in Cairns. The defence department said the member is now assisting the Joint Military Police Unit with its enquiries, and that “Navy’s focus and priority is providing support to those who are impacted by this incident.”

Vice Admiral Matt Buckley, the chief of navy, characterized the discovery in a written statement to navy members as “an act of sexual violence” and “the most despicable betrayal of trust.” He said the ship’s program had been altered “to enable a rapid and rigorous investigation by the Joint Military Policing Unit,” and that “all potentially impacted personnel are receiving our strongest support.” The warrant officer of the navy has been deployed to Cairns to support the ship’s company.

The case became public a day earlier when Senator Jacqui Lambie, an ADF veteran and advocate for defence personnel, told the Senate she had been contacted by a former navy member with allegations that a hidden camera had been found in a female shower facility aboard HMAS Leeuwin. Defence did not initially confirm the device’s location or any details of its investigation. In the Senate, Lambie asked: “How many of our female sailors have unknowingly been recorded in their most private moments? How much footage has been distributed online so far, retained or uploaded without knowledge or consent?”

Defence Minister Richard Marles described the incident on Thursday as “reprehensible, invasive and … the most despicable breach of trust,” and said he was receiving updates on the investigation. “There is no place for this behaviour in the Australian Defence Force,” Marles said in a statement on social media. “Our priority remains supporting the individuals who have been impacted.”

The navy has begun what Buckley described as a “100% audit of all of our bathrooms across the Fleet.” He told navy members: “You have my assurance and commitment that we will tackle this act of sexual violence with all of our energy. Any perpetrator will be held to account.” He added that “eradicating sexual violence in our workplace is fundamental to the fighting efficiency of our Navy.”