'Consequences' to external military harassment probe

An independent defence force investigation body would have unintended consequences, the government says, despite allegations of a scourge of harassment in recent years.

A recording device was found on board HMAS Leeuwin on Sunday while it was docked in Cairns in far north Queensland.

An investigation has been launched by Defence into the incident, with it being referred to the Joint Military Police Unit.

Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie, who served in the army and raised the issue in the Senate, said Defence should not be left to investigate the incident in order to make sure it's properly dealt with.

"This is a culture that, unfortunately, Defence has not been able to clean up, and it hasn't even come close," she told ABC TV on Thursday.

She instead wants an independent body established to examine the events.

But Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said establishing such a body was not the right path and could have unintended consequences.

"What we are committed to is making sure that the culture is there that's safe and respectful and we've got a range of measures in place to allow us to do that," he told ABC Radio on Friday.

He would not be drawn on what the consequences were, but said Defence was considering the best way to run an investigation.

"My message to (women) is we want you to serve. We want to make sure you feel you can serve in a safe and respectful environment, and we are working really hard to do that," Mr Conroy said.

Defence has long grappled with a string of sexual harassment allegations, which have come to the fore as one in five military personnel are women.

An inquiry into sexual violence within the defence force was established in September following recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, which found sexual misconduct was a "systemic issue" within the military.

It is being led by former senator Natasha Stott Despoja, who said her lack of military background allowed her to act independently.