Skype scandal report under consideration

Defence Minister Stephen Smith says a long-awaited report into the so-called "Skype scandal" has raised complex and sensitive matters which remain under consideration.

He anticipates a conclusion to the process in the next few weeks.

Senior counsel Andrew Kirkham undertook a detailed review of how the incident at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) was managed.

The scandal occurred on March 28, 2011, when a male cadet had consensual sex with a female colleague.

The encounter was filmed without her knowledge and streamed to four cadets in another room.

Mr Smith said any action, including public release of Mr Kirkham's report, depended on consideration of matters such as obligations to consult interested parties, and legal and policy issues involved in any public disclosure.

The minister has launched a series of reviews into defence culture, including the Kirkham review.

The ADFA incident provoked more than 1000 claims about other incidents of abuse and misconduct in the defence force.

The government commissioned law firm DLA Piper to assess those allegations.

Mr Smith received volume one of the firm's report, covering general findings and recommendations, plus the first part of volume two, covering individual allegations, in December.

"The latest advice from the review team is that completion of the final report is expected in March," he said.

The allegations before the review team involved complex and sensitive matters and more time had been required than originally estimated.

"It is essential that the time is taken to get the assessments right," Mr Smith said.