The Ministry of Defense of Australia conducted a secret investigation on the heads of departments, and have admitted that the leakage of confidential information about the private life of the Minister, reports The Age newspaper on 26 March.

At the Ministry of Defense found that 16 years of friendship which lasts Minister Joel Fittsgibbona (Joel Fitzgibbon ) who lives in Sydney with the entrepreneurs of Chinese origin, Helen Liu (Helen Liu) could pose a threat to national security. In particular, it was found that during the visits to Canberra, Minister stayed in the apartments that are rented from Liu. Also, the Minister was accused of having taken from Liu expensive gifts. As part of the investigation, it was even investigated the contents of a working computer Minister, which found bank details businesswoman.

According to the results of the investigation were handed over to senior officials of the Ministry, but the cause was not given a turn. The representative of the Ministry with the officially stated that no issues relating to dating Fittsgibbona to Liu, it is not directly discussed.

Fittsgibbon in turn confirmed that familiar with Liu and her family since 1992, and considers them his personal friends . His representative also confirmed that the Minister and biznesvumen exchanged gifts on holidays, but stressed that it was a small souvenirs that do not require the declaration.

Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Ruddy, commenting on the conflict situation in the Ministry of Defense, noted that his not impressed by the results obtained during the investigation, but he would prefer to wait for official results. According to Premier, the tensions between the Minister of Defense and his subordinates has always existed, and he did not see in this situation is nothing supernatural.

Recent conflicts within the Ministry was raised in connection with the scandal because of the non-combatants Australian Special Forces (SASR) wages. Commenting on the incident, Fittsgibbon called the work of his department in this situation, incompetent.