Australia's richest person, Gina Rinehart, has expressed confusion over the arrest of Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith on war crimes charges, as high-profile support for the former soldier emerges. Roberts-Smith was arrested in Sydney on Tuesday and charged with five counts of war crime murder related to alleged offences in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. He is yet to enter a plea but is expected to defend the charges.
Rinehart, a mining billionaire, issued a statement questioning the cost and time spent investigating former soldiers. '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,' she said. She called for compassion for Roberts-Smith and his family, adding that the morale of the defence force is at its lowest ebb.
The arrest has sparked commentary split along political lines. Former prime minister Tony Abbott expressed 'instinctive sympathy' for special forces soldiers, saying they fought under 'highly restrictive rules of engagement' and should not be judged by civilian standards. Elon Musk, owner of social platform X, responded to a supportive post by saying, 'This sounds insane.'
Opposition leader Angus Taylor declined to comment directly on the arrest but emphasised support for defence personnel. Some Coalition colleagues went further, with shadow veterans' affairs minister Michael McCormack suggesting a smear campaign against Roberts-Smith. Shadow defence personnel minister Phillip Thompson said it was wrong to assess combat decisions as if made in civilian life.
National party leader Matt Canavan expressed discomfort passing judgment on someone who served the country but acknowledged the need for high standards. He questioned the wisdom of subjecting military personnel to civilian court processes. Support for Roberts-Smith has emerged among Christian nationalists and rightwing groups, with international commentators, particularly in the US, also weighing in.
