Graham Edwards (Cowan, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary (Defence and Veterans' Affairs)) Share this | Hansard source

Fair enough; I am not going to argue. But I say to the minister: look, do not just dismiss these sorts of articles. Do not come into this place and say, ‘As the minister, I’m going to keep an open mind.’ Even if this article headed ‘Enemy is in Canberra, say Diggers’ is a different one, let me quote from it. It says:

Blood-filled boots and sodden jackets infested with maggots force thousands of Australian soldiers a year to buy their own military equipment.

Even if it is exaggerated, even if it is only 40, what areas are these people working in? Are they our special forces? Are they the most exposed of our soldiers in the remotest areas, far away from immediate support? Minister, do not come into this place and say, ‘I come to this job with an open mind.’ Minister, I want you to go down to DMO and find out what is going on. I want you to come back to this House and report to us on what is going on. Is there truth or sensation in these articles? Come back and tell us, Minister, because we are taking a very close interest in the welfare of our people deployed overseas—and we want to know from you that they are being properly looked after.

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