Sex tape scandal rocks Australian military

Australia's military, already under fire for racist comments made by soldiers serving in Afghanistan, was rocked by another scandal yesterday when a young woman accused a fellow cadet of secretly filming a sexual encounter between the two of them and broadcasting it to his friends.

The 18-year-old, whose identity has not been released, told Australia's Ten Network that she had consensual sex with the man at the Australian Defence Force Academy, but said the man secretly filmed the encounter and transmitted it via Skype to six other military students.

The woman said she had no idea she had been filmed until defence officials told her. Photos of the encounter were also circulated around the academy, she said.

"It was like my whole world came crashing down around me," the woman said. "They had to read the statements that the boys had to make and I actually threw up."

Defence Minister Stephen Smith said federal police and the defence department were investigating.

The scandal comes at a delicate time for the force, which was heavily criticised last month after racist, expletive-laden comments made by Australian soldiers serving in Afghanistan were aired on social and broadcast media. In video footage posted on Facebook, soldiers were heard using racist terms in reference to Afghans, including describing them as "smelly locals".