A controversial comparison between a decades-old electoral fraud conviction and a historic war crime prosecution has sparked debate in Australian federal politics, with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson saying she understands the turmoil charged former Special Air Service soldier Ben Roberts-Smith is currently enduring.
Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living service member and a Victoria Cross recipient, was taken into custody on April 7 this year. He faces five separate charges of murder for alleged unlawful killings of unarmed civilians during his deployment to Afghanistan. The former soldier has repeatedly and forcefully rejected all accusations against him, maintaining his conduct throughout his service aligned with military values, training and official rules of engagement. In a public statement released 12 days after his arrest, Roberts-Smith said he remained proud of his service and the work of his fellow service members, particularly those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, and expressed gratitude for the widespread public support he has received.
Speaking to a gathering of Roberts-Smith’s supporters in Brisbane over the weekend, Senator Hanson drew a direct parallel between the veteran’s current criminal prosecution and her own legal battle two decades ago. In August 2003, Hanson was found guilty of electoral fraud and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. She spent 11 weeks behind bars before the Queensland Court of Appeal overturned her conviction.
“I’ve been in Ben Roberts-Smith’s shoes, as far as facing a criminal trial,” Hanson told the crowd. “I’ve been there, and it’s a distressing time, especially when you know you’re innocent, and I think Ben needs to know that people are supportive of him. In some ways, I know exactly what he’s going through.”
A longstanding public backer of Roberts-Smith, Hanson confirmed she has spoken multiple times with the former soldier and his family since his arrest. She declined to rule out the possibility of Roberts-Smith running for public office one day on the One Nation party ticket, but added that it would be unfair to place that level of political pressure on him while he navigates his upcoming trial. “He’s going through a hell of a thing at the moment,” she noted. Echoing a commitment to judicial process, Hanson added: “I’m not going to judge him, I can’t, that’s up to the courts now.”