Nine face action over Afghan spy drama

Defence has taken disciplinary action against nine members over an incident in which a soldier allegedly drew a handgun on a female spy during a drinking session in Afghanistan.

Defence chief Mark Binskin said Australian Defence Force Investigative Service had conducted an inquiry, with evidence going to the Director of Military Prosecutions.

He said ADFIS had investigated this serious allegation of misuse of a handgun.

But based on assessment of available information, no further action could be taken, although that could change if further information emerged.

ADFIS did investigate other allegations of misconduct with nine defence personnel charged, including the soldier at the centre of the original allegation.

Disciplinary action has been taken and further administrative action would be considered once the disciplinary action had been concluded.

"We took it very seriously," Air Chief Marshal Binskin told a Senate estimates hearing.

The incident supposedly occurred in December 2013 and involved a special forces soldier and a female member of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service.

Others charged were not necessarily involved in the incident.

"We didn't just look at one particular thing. We looked at the whole context of it," he said.