No more twerking, Peter Dutton tells ADF

Defence Minister Peter Dutton says a ‘twerking’ dance performance at a naval ship launch was a bad look for the navy and warned top military brass against hiring similar entertainment.

Sydney dance troupe 101 Doll Squadron performing before an ADF ceremony. Picture: ABC

Defence Minister Peter Dutton says a “twerking” dance performance at a naval ship launch was a bad look for the navy and warned top military brass against hiring similar entertainment for future Australian ­Defence Force ceremonies.

Sydney dance troupe 101 Doll Squadron went viral this week for dancing at the launch of HMAS Supply (II) over the weekend, and have since accused the ABC of humiliating them with “creepy” edits of the dance, which they say over-­sexualised the performance.

Minister for Woman Marise Payne on Friday said she felt the dancers — who do a lot of community work with the HMAS Supply (II) crew in Sydney’s Woolloomoloo precinct — had been badly treated by the media coverage of their dancing.

But after complaints from government MPs over the performance this week, Mr Dutton said on Friday he had discussed the performance with Chief of Navy Vice-Admiral Michael Noonan and warned him against straying from the traditional naval ceremony in future.

“It wasn’t a good look. It is not going to happen again. I have spoken (to) great man Michael Noonan, the Chief of Navy, but I have made it very clear that (it) won’t be happening again,” Mr Dutton told the Nine Network.

“I’m sorry to (people) who have enjoyed the footage but you won’t see that again at a ship launch.”

The 101 Doll Squadron was invited to the naval commissioning on Sunday after working with the navy at several community events, including a BBQ for local youth, and performed the now-viral “twerking” dance before the ceremony started.

The official ceremony on Sunday also included the dancers — who performed a more traditional routine — and speeches were given by Governor-General David Hurley and ­Admiral Noonan.

The ABC apologised this week to the Governor-General and the Chief of Navy for intersecting images of them with the dancers, when they did not arrive in time to witness 101 Doll Squadron’s first performance.

101 Doll Squadron has attacked the ABC for not apologising to its dancers for the trauma they have suffered due to the media coverage, and said images from the event were subject to “creepy” edits.

Senator Payne said on Friday the dancers had endured “extraordinary abuse” in recent days.