Tasmanian independent MP Jacqui Lambie blew any chance of getting my vote when she shouted and bullied us in support of vaccine mandates. But Lambie’s Covidian bluster cut to the heart of both her problems and her appeal. Lambie is, if nothing else, passionate about issues.
Including Australia’s treatment of its veterans. Naturally, then, she is incandescent over the ongoing campaign by Defence brass against their own ranks.
Firebrand independent senator Jacqui Lambie says she won’t hold back when ADF chief Angus Campbell comes before senate estimates this week.
The former soldier turned Tasmanian senator said there were “certainly letters” she would like off the Defence Force, particularly in relation to personnel accused of war crimes who will have their medals stripped.
Lambie is referring to the ongoing fallout from the Brereton report. This report, so far uncorroborated by tested evidence, let alone anything even remotely resembling due process, accuses the ADF of “unlawful killings, blood lust, a broken culture” in Afghanistan. At one point, the ADF brass proposed to blanket-strip Afghanistan veterans of their service honours.
General Campbell has, in recent weeks, written to several current and former Defence Force members, informing them that their honours for distinguished and conspicuous service in war operations could be cancelled over their alleged behaviour.
It’s been reported the letters have been sent to soldiers who held command positions in the Afghanistan war and were a recommendation of the damning Brereton report.
As Lambie furiously points out, none of those soldiers have been given any kind of due process to defend themselves.
“These guys have been through crap and (there are) no charges. Now putting their faces and families out there,” she told Channel 9.
“We have problems here.”
Even more pointedly, Lambie reminds Campbell that, as commander of Australian forces in Afghanistan, Campbell ought to lead by example and be the first person to hand in his medals.
Senator Lambie said there were “problems here” and questioned whether the top brass at the time of the war, including General Campbell, would be made to also hand back their medals […]
She said she would question whether General Campbell was prepared to “lead by example and hand back his own medals”.
Or is Campbell merely a master of leading from very, very far behind?
Lambie is not the only person furious with Defence brass.
Last week, veterans groups furiously reacted at General Campbell’s intention to revoke honours, pleading with the Albanese government to interfere.
The Australian
The daughter of the late soldier and senator Jim Molan, Erin Molan, is also ropeable.
News.com.au
“Let me tell you, the absolutely appalling, clumsy, calamitous handling of this entire situation is the only proven crime so far,” she said.
Lambie has other bones to pick with Defence, too.
Senator Lambie is expected to also press the Defence Force over its “outdated” Australian Defence Force Academy and renew her plea for the institution to be shut down.
Last week, Senator Lambie called the Academy a “failed 1980s experiment” that offered junior officers “almost no experience in managing actual people”.
It came after the chair of the royal commission probing veteran suicide took aim at Defence leadership.
The Australian
Still, at least Defence leadership are dab hands at prancing about in high heels.
Now, that’s leadership, isn’t it?