Australian Navy and ABC in hot water over twerking dancers at ship launch ceremony

The navy commissioned a seven-woman dance troupe to perform at the commissioning of a new ship, but their performance was not considered above board

Broadcaster ABC was criticised by PM Scott Morrison for editing footage to imply that Governor-General David Hurley saw the dancers, but he had not yet arrived

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A dance troupe performs in front of a new naval supply vessel, causing controversy in Australia. Photo: Handout

Published: 7:27pm, 15 Apr 2021Updated: 7:27pm, 15 Apr 2021

A dance troupe’s performance at an Australian Navy event created a furore on Thursday as initial criticism over apparent twerking at dignitaries turned into a story of inaccurate media coverage and criticism of the national broadcaster by the prime minister.

The Defence Department found itself in hot water over reports of inappropriate entertainment at the commissioning of a A$2 billion (US$1.5 billion) naval ship in Sydney last weekend.

A seven-woman troupe dressed in black shorts, red crop tops and berets performed a dance routine that included twerking in front of the auxiliary vessel, HMAS Supply, on April 10, according to footage shown by the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) on Wednesday.

Video of the performance by the 101 Doll Squadron prompted criticism that it was too risqué for a formal occasion.

The ABC report cut between shots showing the dancers and a crowd of dignitaries including Governor-General David Hurley, Queen Elizabeth’s representative in Australia. However, Hurley had not arrived at the time of the routine, a spokesman for the Australian Defence Force said.