Defence says because the Ballarat is currently deployed on border protection operations, officials from the Australian Defence Force Investigative Service will not be able to join the ship immediately and it might take up to several days before the investigation is properly begun. A former navy member who identified herself as Bridget told Channel Ten on Thursday that sailors on board the ship have told her that young men are being attacked with objects including water bottles and marker pens. "People were set upon by members and stripped off and had things essentially put in their bums," she said. "I think people are scared. If it happened in a normal workplace the police would be called, charges would be laid." Navy chief Vice Admiral Ray Griggs said in a statement that the navy is being as transparent as it can and would move rapidly to finalise the investigation.

"Allegations such as these are serious and it is critical that the investigative process is properly followed. As such I will not speculate on any aspect of the allegations," he said in a statement. "We have dealt with the allegations swiftly and I reiterate that inappropriate behaviour is not consistent with our values and is not tolerated in navy. "Navy is being as open and transparent as it can about this incident within the limitations of the investigative process." Vice-Admiral Griggs said he applauded any "member of the navy who has the courage to raise concerns like these and I encourage anyone who is aware of, or who experiences, unacceptable behaviour to do the same". "The alleged behaviours are simply not consistent with navy values. Navy does not tolerate inappropriate behaviour and will act accordingly if any of the allegations are substantiated."

Support services will be made available for any member of the ship's company seeking assistance. The head of the Australia Defence Association, Neil James, says while the allegations are shocking Defence's handling of more sex abuse allegations is proof the system is improving. "All the incidents recently have been reported and reported quickly by people on the scene. You know it hasn't sort of filtered out much later on or indirectly," he said. "People are much more comfortable these days in reporting incidents and I think that that's probably quite an encouraging sign." Defence says it will not make further statements until its investigation was complete.