Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question without notice is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, your defence minister gave assurances to this House that no SAS soldier would be financially disadvantaged and there would be no retribution for raising the issue outside the chain of command. Prime Minister, are you aware that the SAS soldiers have now been called in, one by one, and required to sign statements that they were not responsible for the publication of an email threatening disciplinary action if soldiers went outside the chain of command over the pay scandal? Prime Minister, the guarantees of your defence minister mean absolutely nothing. Prime Minister, how can you still have confidence in your defence minister when our soldiers do not?

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

First of all, as the minister indicated in his statements yesterday and the day before, he took action on 22 October. That was reinforced by a direction to the Chief of Army in February. Secondly, I would draw the honourable member’s attention to the statement made—I believe yesterday—by the Chief of the Defence Force that, when it comes to any matter relating to the chain of command and any statement by any member or communication by any member of the SAS, no retribution would ensue. I take the Chief of the Defence Force at his word.