THE Defence Department is investigating allegations that TV and film celebrity Tania Zaetta had sex with Australian special forces soldiers during a recent tour of war-ravaged Afghanistan.
The department has been severely embarrassed after admitting it broke privacy rules by naming Zaetta - who has denied the allegation - in a briefing document to the Minister for Defence Joel Fitzgibbon.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the matter was best left to the department.
"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,'' he said.
The federal Opposition has demanded the Government apologise for the "gross" and "extraordinary" invasion of Zaetta's privacy.
Angry Anderson and Zaetta were headline acts on a 17-day tour that staged concerts for Australian soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Anderson reportedly passed on information to defence officials that Zaetta had slept with soldiers during the tour.
Opposition defence spokesman Nick Minchin, who travelled on a transport aircraft with Zaetta and Anderson during the tour, has demanded an explanation from Mr Fitzgibbon.
"This is a gross invasion of her privacy," he said on Fairfax radio today.
"It is very unfortunate and I think Mr Fitzgibbon, as the Defence Minister, should come out today and explain exactly how this has occurred.
"He should apologise publicly to her. This is an extraordinary invasion of her privacy. He has got some answers to provide."
Zaetta and Anderson have strongly denied the allegations.
"That is the most ridiculous story I've ever heard about my life - and I've heard plenty over the years in this industry," Zaetta told the Daily Telegraph.
Defence said it was aware of the allegations and was investigating.
Senator Minchin asked how the story 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.
"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."
The document says all personnel on the tour were briefed on Defence Force policy on fraternising with troops 10 days before they flew to the Middle East.
Under a heading "Talking Points" - briefing notes given to ministers as suggestions for handling controversial issues in public - the document suggests the minister say: "I'm aware of the allegation and understand that an investigation is currently being conducted.
In interviews given to publicise the tour, which was filmed by the ABC's Australian Story and aired over the past two weeks, Zaetta said: "I'm single and there has been a lot of teasing that I am going into a place where they haven't seen girls for a long time."
Just before the tour left, she said about touring the Middle East: "If you can't get a date out of there then you've got no hope."
Commanding Officer of the tour Lieutenant Colonel Greg McCauley said he could not comment and referred inquiries to the Department of Defence's public affairs division.
Sources on the tour said they had no knowledge of any Defence investigation and were surprised that an allegation would have been made.
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