Tania Zaetta Troop Sex Slur
THE Defence Department has issued an unreserved apology to entertainer Tania Zaetta after a leaked memo accused her of having sex with troops in Afghanistan.
In a statement tonight, Brigadier Andrew Nikolic responded to reports that Ms Zaetta had sex with soldiers during a trip to Afghanistan to entertain troops.
A leaked Defence memo reported in News Limited publications today said fellow entertainer Angry Anderson had made a complaint about Ms Zaetta's behaviour.
Brigadier Nikolic said: “We are unaware how that unauthorised disclosure occurred, but we apologise unreservedly to those named. We have called on News Limited to assist our enquiries by returning any material they have obtained."
“An initial document, prepared internally to brief the Minister, did contain the names but was withdrawn by Defence within minutes because of privacy concerns. Importantly, the final version of the document did not include names,” he said.
Brih Nikolic said Defence was investigating a number of matters, "including the allegation of inappropriate behaviour, privacy concerns, and the unauthorised disclosure".
“We hope to complete these inquiries quickly and have taken steps to formally apologise to the people whose names were published by the media,” Brigadier Nikolic said.
Earlier today, an entertainer who toured Afghanistan with Ms Zaetta says the star alleged to have had sex with Diggers during her visit was too busy even for a 'quickie'.
"I've heard of quickies mate, but you'd have to be really quick - we didn't have time to do anything,'' John Clinton, from the country rock band The Wolverines, told Macquarie Radio.
The sex-with-troops claim - strenuously denied by Zaetta - has left the Defence Department red-faced after it named her in an official document, and the furore has even reached Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
He said: "I have seen those reports today and, as I understand it, these matters are under investigation within the defence department and I will leave it for that investigation to reach its own conclusions".
Mr Clinton explained that everyone on the tour "was together all the time and everyone was doing their job. We all travelled in the same Hercules, we had buses when we arrived".
"They did a roll call before we took off, we had a roll call when we got there. It's not as if you can go missing.''
The entertainers had also been warned they would be kicked off the tour if they were caught fraternising with the troops, said Clinton, whose band toured with Zaetta.
"One of the hard and fast rules that we got told, briefing after briefing, was that there was no fraternising, there was no alcohol, and if you break the rules you get taken straight off the camp and you're sent home,'' he said.
"I can't see where that sort of thing could have happened.''
In pictures: Tania Zaetta's rise to fame
A Defence document said the unsubstantiated allegation that Zaetta had sex with special forces troops at the Australian base in Tarin Kowt last month, while on a 17-day concert tour of the Middle East, was made by rocker Angry Anderson, who today denied making any complaint.
Clinton doubted Angry Anderson had made a complaint about Zaetta, saying he "was just such a gentleman'' while on tour.
Zaetta, 37, a radio host and Bollywood actress, was the co-host of 1990s television show Who Dares Wins, which is also the motto of the Australian SAS.
She strenuously denied the allegation.
"That is the absolute first I've heard of it," she told News Ltd.
"That is the most ridiculous story I've ever heard about my life - and I've heard plenty over the years in this industry.
"It takes the cake. I've just done this most amazing life-changing experience, been to the most unbelievable places and for this to be said, it's very hurtful."
Anderson, lead singer of rock band Rose Tattoo, said he had not made a complaint about Zaetta.
"I don't know where that came from. I don't get into personal or petty dislikes, particularly when it could hamper or have a detrimental effect on a tour," he told News Ltd.
"I don't know Tania very well. As far as I could tell she conducted herself in a very professional manner."
A Department of Defence spokesman confirmed that an investigation was under way and that statements would be taken from those who participated on the tour, who were briefed on the military's no-fraternisation policy 10 days before the tour.
In interviews given to publicise the tour, Zaetta told AAP: "I'm single at the moment, and there has been a lot of teasing that I am going into a very male dominated place where they haven't seen girls for a long time."
Opposition defence spokesman Nick Minchin queried how "these stories" reached the newspapers.
"It is deeply concerning that these unsubstantiated allegations have been publicly aired, especially as Ms Zaetta strenuously denies the rumours," he said in a statement.
Entertainers such as Zaetta and Anderson should be thanked for visiting our troops in the field, not subjected to tawdry innuendo, he said.
"How did these stories reach the newspapers?
"Mr Fitzgibbon must immediately investigate who in the Department of Defence or his office leaked this story.
"And then he must explain how that person has been dealt with and what will be done to stop such slurs being leaked in the future."
In a statement tonight, Brigadier Andrew Nikolic responded to reports that Ms Zaetta had sex with soldiers during a trip to Afghanistan to entertain troops.
A leaked Defence memo reported in News Limited publications today said fellow entertainer Angry Anderson had made a complaint about Ms Zaetta's behaviour.
Brigadier Nikolic said: “We are unaware how that unauthorised disclosure occurred, but we apologise unreservedly to those named. We have called on News Limited to assist our enquiries by returning any material they have obtained."
“An initial document, prepared internally to brief the Minister, did contain the names but was withdrawn by Defence within minutes because of privacy concerns. Importantly, the final version of the document did not include names,” he said.
Brih Nikolic said Defence was investigating a number of matters, "including the allegation of inappropriate behaviour, privacy concerns, and the unauthorised disclosure".
“We hope to complete these inquiries quickly and have taken steps to formally apologise to the people whose names were published by the media,” Brigadier Nikolic said.
Earlier today, an entertainer who toured Afghanistan with Ms Zaetta says the star alleged to have had sex with Diggers during her visit was too busy even for a 'quickie'.
"I've heard of quickies mate, but you'd have to be really quick - we didn't have time to do anything,'' John Clinton, from the country rock band The Wolverines, told Macquarie Radio.
The sex-with-troops claim - strenuously denied by Zaetta - has left the Defence Department red-faced after it named her in an official document, and the furore has even reached Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
He said: "I have seen those reports today and, as I understand it, these matters are under investigation within the defence department and I will leave it for that investigation to reach its own conclusions".
Mr Clinton explained that everyone on the tour "was together all the time and everyone was doing their job. We all travelled in the same Hercules, we had buses when we arrived".
"They did a roll call before we took off, we had a roll call when we got there. It's not as if you can go missing.''
The entertainers had also been warned they would be kicked off the tour if they were caught fraternising with the troops, said Clinton, whose band toured with Zaetta.
"One of the hard and fast rules that we got told, briefing after briefing, was that there was no fraternising, there was no alcohol, and if you break the rules you get taken straight off the camp and you're sent home,'' he said.
"I can't see where that sort of thing could have happened.''
In pictures: Tania Zaetta's rise to fame
A Defence document said the unsubstantiated allegation that Zaetta had sex with special forces troops at the Australian base in Tarin Kowt last month, while on a 17-day concert tour of the Middle East, was made by rocker Angry Anderson, who today denied making any complaint.
Clinton doubted Angry Anderson had made a complaint about Zaetta, saying he "was just such a gentleman'' while on tour.
Zaetta, 37, a radio host and Bollywood actress, was the co-host of 1990s television show Who Dares Wins, which is also the motto of the Australian SAS.
She strenuously denied the allegation.
"That is the absolute first I've heard of it," she told News Ltd.
"That is the most ridiculous story I've ever heard about my life - and I've heard plenty over the years in this industry.
"It takes the cake. I've just done this most amazing life-changing experience, been to the most unbelievable places and for this to be said, it's very hurtful."
Anderson, lead singer of rock band Rose Tattoo, said he had not made a complaint about Zaetta.
"I don't know where that came from. I don't get into personal or petty dislikes, particularly when it could hamper or have a detrimental effect on a tour," he told News Ltd.
"I don't know Tania very well. As far as I could tell she conducted herself in a very professional manner."
A Department of Defence spokesman confirmed that an investigation was under way and that statements would be taken from those who participated on the tour, who were briefed on the military's no-fraternisation policy 10 days before the tour.
In interviews given to publicise the tour, Zaetta told AAP: "I'm single at the moment, and there has been a lot of teasing that I am going into a very male dominated place where they haven't seen girls for a long time."
Opposition defence spokesman Nick Minchin queried how "these stories" reached the newspapers.
"It is deeply concerning that these unsubstantiated allegations have been publicly aired, especially as Ms Zaetta strenuously denies the rumours," he said in a statement.
Entertainers such as Zaetta and Anderson should be thanked for visiting our troops in the field, not subjected to tawdry innuendo, he said.
"How did these stories reach the newspapers?
"Mr Fitzgibbon must immediately investigate who in the Department of Defence or his office leaked this story.
"And then he must explain how that person has been dealt with and what will be done to stop such slurs being leaked in the future."
Labels: Aussie, Kiss And Tell, Scandal
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