Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

What a disorderly rabble this government are. We recognise on this side of the House that General Campbell and indeed everyone who serves in our armed forces, be it in Australia or overseas, is deserved of respect from the political process. On any number of occasions, as we have been discussing in public the policy issues around Operation Sovereign Borders, I have clearly stated that I do not regard our military as deserved of being the whipping boys or girls when there are legitimate concerns with government policy.

Although it is very rare, I agree with part of what the Assistant Minister for Defence said. When he said that if the opposition have problems with what is happening with government policy, raise it about the government and do not attack the military. I have seen through my working life that when there are complex political issues, it is most easy for the blame-game to rain down from the top to the bottom. I do not support hiding behind the military when there are problems with government policy. I accept that those opposite think that their policy is great and I accept that we on this side believe that the addiction to secrecy is wrong. I do not accept as appropriate the use of the military by the government to hide their own lack of willingness to talk about what is really going on and to not be straight with the Australian people.

The flavour of the debate from the Minister for Foreign Affairs that somehow the opposition do not support our military is wrong. It is a grievous mistruth. That is why this morning, when I was asked questions about the debate in the estimates committee last night, I made it very clear that Senator Conroy had withdrawn his remarks. People said, 'What does that mean?' and 'What do you think?' The fact that Senator Conroy made the comments and then withdrew them, I believe, speaks for itself. There is a recognition in this debate, if anyone bothers to read the whole transcript, that Senator Conroy is most concerned about the way the government is handling issues of secrecy around Operation Sovereign Borders. We see the government feign patriotism and wrap the flag around themselves and say, 'We're true patriots and anyone who criticises the government is in fact criticising the military and that makes them unpatriotic or unAustralian.' We are not falling for that lie. They say that patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels and we are seeing that truism yet again with this government.

I respect our military and, like many here, I have had family members serve in the military. I understand the ultimate sacrifice that 40 of ours have made in Afghanistan. I understand that 200—

Ms Julie Bishop interjecting—

Minister for Foreign Affairs! I am talking about the sacrifice of our soldiers. You could at least listen to that with respect. I understand—look at the government frown, as if they have a monopoly on patriotism. Forty people have died in Afghanistan. I know this and I know everyone on the other side knows this too, actually. I know that all of us in this House respect the 260 people who have come back with injuries and I know all of us in this House respect that there are many more people who will no doubt be dealing with the consequences and the psychological trauma of war for the rest of their lives.

What Labor will not allow in this debate is false, faux patriotism—that when the opposition pursue the government on its policies somehow it is a reflection of Labor's commitment to our armed forces.

A government member interjecting—

And, yes, I was quoted correctly on 23 January when we heard reports about the alleged events involving Navy personnel on the high seas. I set my line in the sand early as opposition leader. I do not have a default button which says that when there are problems blame the military because I do not think that. I resent very much the cowardly insinuations of some of those false, flag-waving patriots who say that we on this side do not care as much about the military. That is why, at the start of my address to this House, I made it very clear what I think about General Campbell. That is why, before this afternoon, I have already made efforts to be in contact with him to indicate on behalf of Labor our ongoing respect and support for him because, you know what, I think that is the right thing to do.

When we see the sanctimonious, finger-wagging, lecture-giving, sermonising, false patriotism from those opposite, when they seek to use the military as a stick to beat Labor about the head and when I hear the Minister for Foreign Affairs say that people deserve better, I say that General Campbell deserves better than being used as a political football to pursue your grubby culture of secrecy. Our military deserve better than you hiding behind uniforms. The minister ought to do his day job and tell us what is going on.

The military deserve better than what the government did on the Saturday morning after what they said on Tuesday—implying blame on Reza Berati, that he was outside the wire and somehow had to take his own chances, and if he had stayed inside the wire he would have been safe. Then on the Saturday morning, we find out, or at least the government find out, that maybe what they said definitively was wrong. Then they waited until past the six o'clock news on Saturday to come out with the facts of the matter. When we want to give a lecture about morality, you do not live in a glass house, members of the government.

What I also know is that in 2007, when Chief of Army General Gillespie was at estimates, it was Senator Ronaldson who called him a coward. I am sure given his time again that Senator Ronaldson might have chosen his words differently. But what we never do in this place is seek to use debate in estimates to somehow make a lie of the Labor Party's support for the men and women in our military. You know what? You can fight the next election and you can try your best to attack us with your policies, but do not ever try—

Mr Joyce interjecting—

Mr Barnaby, say nothing and leave us wondering if you know what you are talking about. What I really object to is that we in this parliament and the Australians who put us here deserve a bit better than the kindergarten, flag-waving, faux patriotism which you guys want to wrap yourselves around. Every Australian Labor Party member loves this country as much as you do. Every Australian Labor Party member of parliament supports our military. Every Australian Labor Party member will never give up holding you to account.

The fact is that you choose to try and hide behind this sort of military patriotism when, in fact, there is no daylight between yourselves and ourselves. You should be better than that. Stick to your day jobs of trying to run your ministries and stop trying to smear and politicise the Australian military. We are on to your trick, and the Australian people are too.

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