A female Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) cadet has been fined and confined to base, in a manner which creates the impression she's being punished for speaking out about sexual abuse, Defence Minister Stephen Smith says.
Mr Smith said the Commandant of the ADFA, Commodore Bruce Kafer, had acknowledged a major error of judgement in allowing an unrelated disciplinary matter to proceed at this time.
The charges, relating to alcohol consumption and being absent without leave in March, were dealt with on Wednesday, with the 18-year-old fined a day's pay and restricted to base for five days.
The action comes as the ADF and federal police investigate allegations that consensual sex between the female cadet and a male student was broadcast, without her knowledge, to six other defence members watching in another room.
"Now that I have access to the full facts and circumstances, it is quite clear that at precisely the same moment that the young woman was advised of the Skype (sex scandal) incident, she was charged with these matters," Mr Smith told ABC TV on Thursday.
"I regard that .. as being somewhere from completely insensitive to completely stupid."
Mr Smith said that action now coloured the entire view of what happened.
"It's very easy now to make the assertion that this was done in response to the other investigation," he said.
"I could not be stronger in my response that double tracking those two processes was a most serious error of judgement and that unfortunately not only now colours my view of events, but colours the public's view of events."
The defence minister said Commodore Kafer acknowledged that he was aware of these matters and that it was a serious error of judgement by him.
Mr Smith said he received advice late on Wednesday night that the woman was immediately provided appropriate counselling and other support.
He had been advised that Commodore Kafer did not demand she apologise for going to the media.
Mr Smith said he had to reflect carefully on whether this indicated a systemic problem and, if it did, what needed to be done.
"There are now, regrettably, two issues," the minister said.
"There is a very serious issue which is the subject of a criminal investigation.
"There is also now a very serious issue of the way in which this matter has been handled."
