The deeply ingrained sexist culture in the military is being blamed for the latest internet sex scandal involving at least 17 male army members of the Australian Defence Force.

''It's a failure of culture and that failure has been there not just for weeks or months or years, but for decades,'' Defence Minister Stephen Smith said.

The implicated army officers are accused of forming an online group responsible for the circulation of videos containing their sexual activities with women, some civilian and others from their own ranks.

According to police sources, these army officers call themselves "The Jedi Council." At least 17 members, including senior ranked officers, are involved in the exchange of sex videos, dangerously passed around along with degrading commentaries about women. It is reported that three of the soldiers have been taking these videos since 2010, and the swapping is being done without the knowledge of the women in the videos.

Aside from the footage, some stills were also discovered to have been produced by the group.

On Thursday, Army Chief Major-General David Morrison branded the act as "demeaning, explicit and profane." He said at least five women became victims of the group. They included female soldiers, civilians and some in public service. The army chief did not discount the possibility that there could be more victims.

He announced the suspension of three officers from the group, and the possible suspension of five others. He also said that nine members could face disciplinary action while the other 90 soldiers in the "periphery" of the act will have to undergo investigation.

The Army Chief said that the emails, passed around by the officers from Defence computers, not only contained explicit images and words that degraded women but also referred to illicit drugs. He, however, dismissed speculations that the videos exhibited any form of violence.

This latest sex scandal involving the military is considered worse than the notorious Skype scandal two years ago. That incident involved a male soldier who broadcast himself to friends while having sex with a female cadet.

General Morrison shared the Defence Minister's opinion that the sexist problem in the military is cultural and systemic. ''These are actions by men who have been in the defence force for in excess of 10 years. This goes to the heart of what I said about systemic problems with culture inside the army," he said.

He took accountability for the issue and acknowledged that the army has a lot of work to do to overturn this persistent cultural dilemma.

''These behaviours are symptoms of a systemic problem and we will continue to address them in a comprehensive manner.''

The Army Chief also mentioned that he has approached four of the women victims and offered apology for the whole scandal. They are said to be both angered and concerned. These women are facing abuse from within the ranks, and it is no surprise if they feel deep trauma, sadness and a sense of betrayal. Comradeship is a core value in the military which in a way has turned against these women.

The 17 soldiers implicated in the sex scandal include a lieutenant colonel, sixth highest rank in the Australian army, majors, captains, warrant officers, sergeants and corporals. They were assigned throughout Australia and were not based in one specific area, according to General Morrison.