Tania Zaetta wins public apology over sex claims

DEFENCE chiefs have issued a humiliating apology to entertainer Tania Zaetta after rumours were spread that she had sex with Diggers during a goodwill tour.

Both the chief of defence, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, and Defence Secretary Nick Warner admitted that the organisation had mismanaged the controversy.

It began when a memo that contained sex claims was distributed to 96 people.

It was recalled four minutes later and the names removed.

Ms Zaetta has emphatically denied the rumours.

Rocker Angry Anderson, who was also on tour, has flatly denied claims he was the source of the allegations or that he had any knowledge of them. "I don't know where that came from," he told the Herald Sun last month.

A government source said the allegations had been made to Lt-Col Greg McCauley, who was commanding officer of the tour, and he is said to have immediately reported them.

During Senate Estimates hearings in Canberra yesterday, the head of defence public affairs, Brigadier Andrew Nikolic, admitted that the brief was distributed to more than 90 people.

Air Chief Marshal Houston told the hearing he was "absolutely appalled" by the scandal.

"I will obviously apologise and express my deep regret about any hurt she has suffered," he said.

"It was not well handled by us. I was absolutely appalled that the names were put out . . . and I regret the whole thing," he said.



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