'I behaved like an idiot': Minister is forced to apologise for inappropriate conduct towards a female soldier
- A minister has been forced to apologise for conduct towards a female soldier
- The incident occurred during a military exchange trip in Darwin in August 2018
- A formal complaint was lodged about Queensland Liberal MP Scott Buchholz
- The Assistant Minister for Roads and Transport said he 'behaved like an idiot'
A minister has been forced to apologise for inappropriate conduct towards a female soldier during a military exchange trip in Darwin.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) member lodged a formal complaint about Assistant Minister for Roads and Transport Scott Buchholz's conduct, the ABC reported on Thursday.
'I behaved like an idiot on a parliamentary exchange last year and I recognise how inappropriate my actions were,' the Queensland Liberal said.
'I apologised for my conduct and the offence I caused, and I reiterate my deep respect for the ADF (Australian Defence Force) and its members.'
Liberal frontbencher Scott Buchholz (centre), with Liberal Ian Goodenough (left) and Labor's Luke Gosling (right), has been forced to apologise for inappropriate conduct towards a female soldier
The incident occurred while Mr Buchholz, who was a backbencher at the time, and the RAAF member were on a military exchange program in August 2018
The incident occurred while Mr Buchholz, who was a backbencher at the time, and the RAAF member were on a military exchange program in August 2018.
Mr Buchholz was promoted as the Assistant Roads and Transport Minister by the newly installed Prime Minister Scott Morrison weeks after the incident.
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The Defence Department declined to detail the inappropriate actions that promoted the female officer's complaint.
The incident was 'referred to the Office of the Minister for Defence Personnel'.
The Department of Defence is reportedly satisfied with an apology Mr Buchholz made to the department.
During the exchange program, Mr Buchholz and fellow MPs angered some in Defence after they ditched a scheduled 'Exercise Pitch Black' event to attend the Darwin Cup races.
The scheduled event was a biennial training exercise in northern Australia involving RAAF members and up to 4,000 personnel from Australia's military allies.
Mr Buchholz was promoted as the Assistant Roads and Transport Minister by the newly installed Prime Minister Scott Morrison (right) weeks after the incident
Liberal MP Ian Goodenough, who joined Mr Buchholz in the Darwin Cup races, has defended the group's actions while taking part in the taxpayer-funded program.
He was advised the Darwin Cup was a major event in the Northern Territory.
Local Labor MP Luke Gosling had consulted with ADF officials to arrange leave during the program to attend the races.
