CANBERRA — Australian soldiers are indulging in expensive cosmetic surgery — including breast enlargements, nose jobs and face lifts — at taxpayers' expense, according to media reports Friday that prompted a defence department investigation.
Official Australian Defence Force policy states that personnel can undergo plastic surgery at public expense for medical or psychological reasons that threaten their ability to work.
An army cook underwent a nose reduction operation Wednesday in the east coast city of Brisbane, while female service personnel have had breast enlargements after claiming that depression and poor confidence were hurting their work, News Ltd. newspapers reported.
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said Friday he has ordered an investigation into the issue.
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“The most important thing to appreciate is that we are very proud of the men and women who serve in the Australian Defence Force ... and do everything we can within reason to cater for their reasonable needs,” Mr. Nelson told reporters.
“Until I've received some advice on whether this has occurred, how it occurs, how it is provided and for what purpose, I'm not prepared to comment,” he added.
Cosmetic surgery consultant Pamela Noon told the newspapers that her business in the upscale tourist resort of Gold Coast in Queensland state has performed breast enlargements, nose jobs and face lifts on six military personnel in the past year.
“While a feature might affect somebody's self-confidence, I can't see how it would help their ability to protect the country,” Ms. Noon was quoted as saying.
