Palmer United senator-elect wants to suspend NSW governor’s appointment
Jacqui Lambie accuses David Hurley and Peter Cosgrove of a potential conflict of interest in defence sex abuse investigation
Jacqui Lambie at a post-election press airnsconference in 2013. Photograph: Paul Miller/AAP
The Palmer United party senator-elect Jacqui Lambie has called for the New South Wales government to suspend David Hurley’s appointment as governor and accused the governor general, Peter Cosgrove, of having a potential conflict of interest if a royal commission into defence abuse is launched.
Lambie, a former military police officer, has stepped up her campaign for the prime minister to establish such a royal commission by criticising the appointments of military men Cosgrove and Hurley.
She said that as former defence chiefs both men could potentially be called to give evidence, and might face a conflict of interest.
Hurley, the current chief of defence, has previously urged Lambie to come to him with her concerns about military culture before going to the media.
In a statement on Tuesday, Lambie said: “Given that the current chief of defence, General Hurley, could also be another key witness at any future defence abuse royal commission – and his recent improper attempt to stop my public campaign to abolish the cut-off date for the Defence Abuse Review Task Force – I’m also calling on the government to suspend his appointment to the position of governor general [sic] of NSW.”
Cosgrove was chief of army from 2000 to 2002 and chief of defence from 2002 to 2005. Lambie has not said either men has direct knowledge of defence abuse but says as former military chiefs it would be expected they would give evidence to a royal commission.
“The provisions of the Royal Commission Act of 1902 are quite clear. While the government initiates any royal commission, the governor general as the Queen’s representative formally authorises the investigation and hands down the terms of reference,” Lambie said.
“Australia’s governor general will be placed in a very difficult position if the Abbott government bows to public and victim pressure – and initiates the inquiry. But, if Mr Abbott fails to initiate the defence abuse royal commission – how will the alleged victims know that it wasn’t a sly attempt to avoid an unprecedented political crisis – by placing the governor general in a position which is a serious conflict of interest?”
Lambie wants broad terms of reference for any royal commission and said she believed abuse was widespread in the defence force.
Lambie has previously said she was aware of abuse when she served as a military police officer.
The people of NSW are being sold a PUP
Note: This is a copy only of Mr Chester’s letter.
The Hon Darren Chester MP
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence
MC14-000282
Mr Ian Reid
PO Box 5573
Manly QLD 4179
Dear Mr Reid
Thank you for your letter of 26 January 2014 and your email of 26 February 2014 offering a suggestion that subparagraph 110V(1)(b)(i) of the Defence Act 1903 (the Act) be amended to include a time impost on the Department of Defence in terms of the length of time to respond when reviewing a decision with regard to an honour or award.
I appreciate that you have been waiting a long time to receive advice on any action that may occur with the submission you and your son provided to the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal’s (the Tribunal) Inquiry into unresolved recognition for past acts of naval
and military gallantry and valour.
I further appreciate the thought that has gone into providing your suggested remedy.
However, a change to the legislation which established the Tribunal and relates to the powers
of the Tribunal, and not the actions of Defence, is not considered necessary at this time.
While acknowledging there have been delays since the Tribunal reported in March 2013,
these have not been within the Tribunals control or influence. Furthermore, the Social
Security (Administration) Act 1999 provision that you have used as a comparison for claim processing times relates to the need for speedy decision making concerning the entitlement to payments for a person to live on. Clearly, such issues are more urgent, notwithstanding the undoubted importance of a claim for medallic recognition.
I am advised by the Chief of the Defence Force that it will still be some months before a final response will be provided to me. I understand that you are interested in resolving this matter quickly and I hope to be able to write to you again before June 2014 with an update on any
action that can be taken regarding your submission.
Thank you for your continuing patience in this matter.
Yours sincerely
Darren Chester
4 MAR 2014
I will root this out if you give me the right information. If there are anybody out there who was involved in ADFA in the ’80s or ’90s who has a complaint about a currently serving officer in relation to a sexual offence, call me. (General David Hurley, Chief of the Defence Force (CDF), transcript Four Corners program Chamber of Horrors, screened 9 June 2014)
And call them they might, but I would strongly suggest that no one have any expectations that the CDF will be taking any action. The CDF has had 15 months to come up with a simple “yes” or “no” answer which would open the way for 140 cases to proceed to a hearing before Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal.
“I am advised by the Chief of the Defence Force that it will still be some months before a final response will be provided to me. I understand that you are interested in resolving this matter quickly and I hope to be able to write to you before June 2014 with an update on any action that can be taken regarding your submission (Darren Chester, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, 4 March 2014)
The insane inference contained within this statement is that the CDF, who retires on the 4th of July, on his last day in the job will make a decision that he’s been avoiding for the past 15 months, and provide an element of natural justice to the 140, including myself who are awaiting a decision. As of today, 13 June 2014, I’m without a further update.