‘To Me, Ben Is a War Hero’: One Nation Leader Speaks at Event Supporting Roberts-Smith

BRISBANE, Australia—One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson has spoken at a Brisbane event held as a show of solidarity for war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith, a Victoria Cross recipient who served in Afghanistan but has now been charged with five counts of war crime murder.

The former Special Air Service operative has been charged with killing five Afghanistan nationals during his six tours to the country.

Roberts-Smith has maintained his innocence and has consistently denied the charges.

Hanson spoke at a barbecue event at Brisbane’s Rocks Riverside Park on June 7, which was organised by a local soon after Roberts-Smith public arrest.

“To me, Ben is a war hero and he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery,” she told the crowd.

Roberts-Smith, who served in Afghanistan from 2006-12, is currently on bail awaiting trial.

“What has happened to Ben we can’t change, he does have to face a court trial,” Hanson said.

“Am I going to judge him, no I can’t. None of us can judge Ben.

“But what I can judge is a man has now been charged with a crime 17 years after the fact—that’s wrong.”

Hanson said she also questioned the accountability for officers who ranked above Roberts-Smith during his time as a lance corporal, and queried if they too would face charges.

“[Afghanistan] wasn’t a place I wanted to be, and I’m sure a lot of our soldiers didn’t want to be there, but it was their duty and we must also respect these men and women who join defence forces are there to fight and protect and stand up for what they’ve been trained to do,” she said.

“If we’re going to turn around now and judge them in this way, it breaks my heart,” Hanson said.

“I’ve spoken to Ben and I’ve also spoken to his parents, they’re devastated.”

Hanson said when she spoke to Roberts-Smith, she relayed the support from many Australians, and he simply replied, “I know.”

She also spoke about the nature of the former soldier’s arrest, saying it was “theatrical.”

“I know because I’ve had it done to me as well when I was charged,” Hanson said, referring to her 2003 arrest after being convicted of electoral fraud over the registration of her party.

The convictions were overturned on appeal later after serving 11 weeks in prison.

“Funny, out in the middle of nowhere, and I had the media in tow to take those initial photographs, so I understand what he [Roberts-Smith] went through and it should never have happened,” Hanson said.

Agencies Pledge to Investigate Media Leaks,

The public nature of Roberts-Smith’s arrest at Sydney Domestic Airport in front of family members and one media outlet has drawn scrutiny.

Australia’s federal anti-corruption body has been tasked with investigating why reporters were present during arrest.

Liberal Senator Dave Sharma asked the head of the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) during a Senate estimates hearing: “Why was the media there? How did they find out?”

In response, OSI Director General Chris Moraitis called it “a good question.”

“The media seemed to be privy to things and therefore we’re taking steps to ascertain what happened there.”

At a later estimates session, Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Kristy Barrett also pledged to investigate the presence of media, but stood by the agency’s decision to arrest Roberts-Smith at the airport.

“I am not just disappointed the media outlet was there, but I am determined to find out how they knew of the arrest,” she told Senate Estimates on May 28.

Barrett also said the “sterile” environment of an airport, where people are screened and area contained, was safer for members of the public and the AFP to take action.

There were reports Roberts-Smith had offered to present himself to police, but this was “unviable” due, in part, to the seriousness of his charges, Barrett said.

Roberts-Smith Vows to Clear Name

Roberts-Smith has consistently proclaimed his innocence, including a failed defamation action against publisher Nine Entertainment over articles that first detailed the alleged war crimes.

After being granted bail in April, Roberts-Smith called his arrest an “unnecessary spectacle.”

“I understand this is an unprecedented case and the public interest is huge, and the media has a job to do, which they should be allowed to do,” he told reporters.

“But I would ask that the media please allow my family their privacy at this time, particularly my children, who have already unfortunately suffered through a deliberate, sensational arrest.”