Australia's Richest Woman Condemns Arrest of Decorated SAS Soldier
Australia's wealthiest individual, mining magnate Gina Rinehart, has added her voice to a growing chorus of high-profile figures expressing outrage over the arrest of former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith. The decorated veteran faces serious allegations of war crimes committed during his service in Afghanistan, sparking a fierce national debate about military justice and government spending.
Charges and Custody Details
Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia's most decorated living soldier, spent Tuesday night in police custody following his dramatic arrest at Sydney Domestic Airport. Australian Federal Police officers took him into custody as he arrived on a flight from Brisbane, with the arrest occurring in front of his teenage twin daughters. The former special forces soldier has been charged with five counts of war crime-murder following a lengthy joint investigation conducted by the Office of the Special Investigator and Australian Police Force.
Each of the five offences carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, underscoring the gravity of the allegations. Roberts-Smith is scheduled to appear before the NSW Bail Division Court 7 on Wednesday, where bail conditions will be determined ahead of future legal proceedings.
Gina Rinehart's Scathing Critique
Gina Rinehart, a long-time vocal supporter of Ben Roberts-Smith and Australian Defence Force veterans generally, issued a strongly worded statement late Tuesday night condemning the arrest. The mining billionaire blasted authorities for what she described as excessive spending on the investigation, questioning the allocation of taxpayer funds.
'I don't understand how it can be justified to spend more than $300 million to try for years to bring SAS veterans, who have served our country, towards criminal proceedings, and most recently the arrest of Ben,' Ms Rinehart declared in her statement.
She invoked the words of recently deceased Brigadier George Mansford, who had stated that military service 'did not include a contract for the normal luxuries and comforts enjoyed within our society' but rather implied hardship, loyalty and devotion to duty.
Rinehart raised concerns about the broader impact on Australia's defence capabilities, asking: 'Have we lost sight of the fact that in our inadequately defended country, facing uncertain times, the morale of our defence force has already been brought to its lowest ebb since inception, our defence personnel numbers are inadequate, and recruitment is suffering?'
The billionaire argued that the substantial investigation funds would have been better spent on national security measures, including counter-terrorism efforts and removing terrorist threats from Australian soil. She concluded her statement with a plea for compassion toward Roberts-Smith and his family, urging Australians to remember his service and sacrifice.
Political and Celebrity Support
Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott also expressed serious reservations about the case, taking to social media to voice his concerns. While acknowledging that rules must be observed even in wartime, Abbott questioned why any alleged transgressions weren't identified earlier, particularly before Roberts-Smith received gallantry awards.
'If Ben Roberts-Smith transgressed, why wasn't this picked up prior to his gallantry awards and why wasn't any culture of brutality towards prisoners detected by his more senior officers, and dealt with quickly, rather than being allowed to fester, as has been alleged, for over a decade?' Abbott tweeted.
The former prime minister also highlighted what he described as systemic delays in military justice proceedings, noting that dozens of former special forces soldiers remain in legal limbo years after investigations began, with only two cases resulting in charges to date. 'Justice delayed is justice denied,' Abbott wrote, arguing that strong cases should be concluded promptly or individuals should be cleared to move on with their lives.
Four-time world boxing champion Danny Green joined the criticism with an emotional Instagram post directed at Roberts-Smith. 'Ben Roberts-Smith you have the support of many good people,' Green wrote, describing the arrest as 'a shocking day' when a soldier trained and paid by the government to fight in wars was arrested in front of his children.
Green's post concluded with strong language condemning those he believed had abandoned the decorated soldier: 'SHAME ON EVERYONE WHO HUNG THIS HERO OUT TO DRY. You know who you are I hope you feel satisfied. Makes me want to vomit and rage at the same time. Rats.'
Broader Political Backing
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson vowed to stand by Roberts-Smith, posting online: 'I remain steadfast in my support. Ben, his immediate and broader defence family need the Australian people's support right now and I will not abandon him like so many other politicians.'
Controversial political activist Drew Pavlou also defended Roberts-Smith, with his social media post attracting attention from billionaire Elon Musk. The owner of X and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX responded to Pavlou's viral post with the simple comment: 'This sounds insane.'
The growing wave of support for Roberts-Smith highlights deep divisions within Australian society regarding how the nation should address allegations of wartime misconduct by its most decorated soldiers. As the legal process moves forward, the debate continues to intensify around questions of military accountability, investigative costs, and the appropriate treatment of veterans accused of crimes during combat operations.
