THE man who holds the balance of power in Federal Parliament has been accused of ordering teenage army cadets to salute the 50th anniversary of Hitler’s rise to power in Nazi Germany.
Maverick independent MP Andrew Wilkie last night admitted involvement in “bastardisation” at Duntroon Military College in 1983.
As a senior cadet at Duntroon that year Wilkie was one of a group that allegedly ordered junior cadets to stand to attention and salute to commemorate Hitler becoming Germany’s Chancellor on January 30, 1933.
When one defiant junior cadet refused to stand at attention in honour of Nazis, Mr Wilkie allegedly allowed other senior cadets to abuse and punish him.
The outspoken former defence analyst – who broke into federal politics after making his name as a whistleblower – refused to meet the man making the allegations this week after publicity about military training abuses.
Mr Wilkie also declined for two days to comment to the Herald Sun on the allegation but yesterday issued a statement admitting involvement in acts of bastardisation at Duntroon. He said he could not recollect the alleged Hitler-salute incident.
The defence force is under siege – the target of several inquiries – after revelations that a teenage female cadet was covertly filmed having sex with a male cadet while other males spied on the couple on a screen in another room.
An anonymous barrister has also publicly described the mental, physical and sexual abuse he and others suffered at Duntroon in the early 1990s.
Former cadet Brendan Etches said he was disappointed to be rebuffed by Mr Wilkie after making an appointment to see the member for Denison at his Hobart electorate office on Tuesday.
He was at first assured that Mr Wilkie would speak to him but was later told by advisers that the politician declined to discuss his time at Duntroon.
Mr Etches said he has wondered for some time if and when the independent MP would speak out against the harsh treatment that the-then Senior Cadet Wilkie and others condoned – and sometimes inflicted – on teenage cadets in 1983 and earlier.
In his book Axis of Deceit, Mr Wilkie says he was a “larrikin” at Duntroon and set “some sort of record” for incurring punishments for offences such as “roughing up” anti-uranium protesters and “giving junior cadets a hard time”.
Mr Etches, whose grandfather fought against Hitler’s troops at Tobruk, said he was shocked at orders to salute the regime that murdered millions in the Holocaust.
“He was drilling us before breakfast,” Mr Etches said yesterday.
“I have a memory of him in a dressing gown, watching as the other senior guys were running around giving us a hard time.
“I refused to come to attention when they ordered the general salute.”
Mr Etches, then 17, and several other cadets left Duntroon after several weeks of bastardisation that would have long-term effects for some of them.
Two decades before Mr Wilkie became famous as the whistleblower who denounced Australia’s involvement in the invasion of Iraq, Mr Etches was one of three cadets who blew the whistle on what he calls the college’s “sick secret cult” of sadistic punishment for trifling or imagined offences.
The scandal led to the resignation of senior officers and the expulsion and disciplining of several cadets, including Wilkie, but he and most of his peers graduated to become career army officers.
“Now he comes across as ‘Andrew Gandhi’ but back then he was scary and we were all wary of him,” Mr Etches told the Herald Sun.
Mr Etches said he wanted to give Mr Wilkie a chance to say that what happened was wrong and was sorry for it.
“Given his position in Australian politics, I thought he would want the Defence Force to be completely above board,” Mr Etches said.
“Is he now saying it (bastardisation) was all good, character-building stuff – or will he face the truth? It would be impossible for him not to know about the bastardisation that happened.”
In a statement yesterday Mr Wilkie said he had “no recollection” of the Hitler incident but admitted he was one of “many cadets caught up in the 1983 bastardisation scandal at Duntroon and like many cadets was disciplined for it at the time”.
Read more: HERE
• What Andrew Wilkie says …
The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, has hit out at a continuing smear campaign against his character.
“I honestly can’t remember being involved in the alleged incident being described in today’s papers,’’ Mr Wilkie said.
“But I have always been open and honest about my involvement in a bastardisation scandal at Duntroon in 1983 for which I was disciplined at the time.
“My offence was to do with a conversation I had with a junior cadet over lunch in the dining room.
“It’s no secret or front-page scoop – I described my Duntroon experience in Axis of Deceit, a book I wrote in 2004, and again just last month on ABC Radio’s Conversations with Richard Fidler.’’
“I have obviously grown up since then and am regretful of my behaviour almost 30 years ago.
“And I will add, I was judged fit to graduate from Duntroon and went on to have a successful military career, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
“Importantly, during my military and subsequent intelligence careers I was repeatedly security cleared and character checked to the highest levels in the country.
“Moreover I condemn the current abuse at the Defence Force Academy and applaud Defence Minister Stephen Smith for his determination to stamp it out.
“Today’s allegations follow a death threat and threats about the existence of supposedly compromising photos earlier in the week.
“I do not assert any links between the journalist and the former cadet he refers to and the poker machine industry.
“But I do ask why the journalist, who by his own admission has been sitting on this story for 28 years, decided to run it just this week.
“I am very concerned that all of this is happening at a time when I’m standing between the poker machine industry and the $5 billion problem gamblers lose on the pokies each year.
“I will not be cowered by the pokies industry and will keep working to drive historic national poker machine reform to improve the lives of the 95,000 Australians with a pokies gambling problem and the countless people they affect.’’
Stephan
April 14, 2011 at 11:46
At high school I gave many a “salute” to my teachers. Shock, Horror.
So, while Wilkie was part of an organisation that quietly sweeps acts of rape and bastardisation under the rug he was part of or instigated the act of a Nazi salute? On Hitler’s birthday?
Big friggin’ deal. Yes, I agree it’s of concern. But get real please and look at the bigger picture.
On you bike. Nothing to see here.
Anne Cadwallader
April 14, 2011 at 11:59
This, sadly, was the culture at Duntroon, and everyone participated. It should never have happened. But who hasn’t been stupid, crass or gone along with a peer group when they were young. Whats interesting is the timing – Andrew Wilkie standing up to some powerful interests, and suddenly this is being outed.
If it has been massacres in Vietnam, or letting boat people drown – but hazing new recruits, long long ago, you have to ask – who cares ? It was poor behaviour, but long ago and much regretted. Andrew’s life ever since has been a huge positive for Australia.
Redemption is something we all need and deserve.
Mark Bavis
April 14, 2011 at 12:07
His pokies reform and Whistleblower-protection legislation is good stuff though and shouldn’t be judged by the character of its creator. He seems to be bringing a lot of balance to federal parliament at the moment, like Xenophon cutting to the core of issues rather than politicking around them. Let voters judge Wilkie at the next federal election, if he chooses to stand again. No doubt some will find his Duntroon transgressions inexcusable. Can’t blame them either. For the moment, I think we should make the most of Wilkie’s positive contributions to Australian politics and watch out for any negative aspects too.
Peter Garrett
April 14, 2011 at 12:11
That barrister’s anal rape at ADFA article is at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/defence/culture-of-abuse-20-years-old/story-e6frg8yo-1226036257416
ALF1
April 14, 2011 at 12:40
Bad Luck Stephan@#1. This isn’t part of a smear campaign, its a campaign of revelation. Good enough for ‘Andrew the bastard’ to smear Federal, but stupid enough to know that not only does some of it stick, it comes back thick. I think Wilkie was a bastard to blow the whistle on his employer, not for any other reason other than overt political expedience.
I can’t stand pub and sould-destroying pokies, but I hate something much worse; regulating human behaviour by legislation,which simply won’t get up and not because of the Federal campaign against Andrew.
And there’s only one thing I hate more than anything in the entire spectrum of human behaviour…and that’s bullying. And there’s no bigger bully than an imperious army officer in charge of a bunch of cadets whose ultimate role is to defend the country.
All officers and NCO’s placed in charge of trainees are not bullies or bastards. But it seems Andrew Wilkie Federal MP, has been tainted as a bully and a bastard and I hate both, as a young nasho who had to put up with that puerile and unnecessary induction behaviour.
Mr Etches has balls for coming forward. Well done mate!
All cadets suffering that type of bullying should come out and collectively spill the beans so that a new order can be established within the once noble ADF.For a start get rid of Angus and only ever have a red-lanyard in charge of the ADF.
I remonstrated not so long ago with a female chef who said that part of her army induction process was a group shag, which she translated as rape. I said ‘would never happen, not in the Aussie army’, but things have changed and maybe the new order has got it all wrong. Will be interested to hear on this blog if Andrew’s almost ‘fascist’ support, begins to wither on the vine of revelation.
Keith Antonysen
April 14, 2011 at 13:22
Its offensive that something done in a private situation has been made public. It is hurtful to those who suffered during WW11 under Hitler”s rule.
But it was done in the spirit of bastardisation which was a tradition at the time and probably still is a tradition.
Wilkie et al have strong points against the damage pokies do to addicts; the character of Wilkie has nothing to do with whether his point is valid or not. Those who resort to attempting character assination obviously have no logical arguments to point out why the status quo should remain.
john hawkins
April 14, 2011 at 13:51
As a former Sandhurst cadet, we considered ourselves in the best possible way as “Born to Rule”.
In my Intake (30),for the first time the Academy had five Rhodesian cadets,one became the Captain of Boxing,another the Captain of Cricket,another the Captain of the Rugby team,and a fourth won the Sword of Honour.
They were a revelation in determination, physical strength, sheer inner toughness, all combined with a desire to succeed in all facets of life.
We as Gentlemen found this approach hard to comprehend or understand.
All of us however understood that we were by virtue of our Profession expected to be both leaders of men and trained killers.
These Colonials of mixed blood,be it Dutch, German, British or South African had a much stronger genetic pool and as a result were like Australians a race apart and punched well above their weight.
We new how to knot a tie correctly, hold a knife and fork or speak and behave in the manner one would associate with a Gentleman.
They new nothing of such useless arts and as a result they left us for dead.
Do not underestimate Andrew Wilkie or the Australian Academy and its methods of making men out of boys. I am sure the system however torrid gives them backbone, which even if exposed by the lashes of the poker faced is rarely found to be broken.
John Biggs
April 14, 2011 at 14:15
I’m sure this has brought you even more public support ,Andrew. It just shows how high the stakes are in this, how much the misery merchants have to loose, and how bloody low they can get in attempting to hang on to their ill-gotten billions. Thank God we have somebody like you to look after those suffering in our society: none of those in the major parties are doing so. You were simply part of the military culture of that time and have now grown out of it. I’m tempted to add that there would be far murkier stuff in the backgrounds of other politicians except that that’s exactly the point: it is irrelevant to the substance of their policies. The only exception I would make is Julia Gillard’s background because that is more relevant to where she is now: wasn’t she once, in those high and far off times, a member of the LEFT?
Michael Swanton
April 14, 2011 at 14:17
What will be revealing will be how quickly and vehemently the gambling industry representatives come out and condemn these repugnant acts.
Michael Swanton.
SAm
April 14, 2011 at 15:41
Wilkie has started a war, the enemy is simply fighting back using any means. Being a man of the military he should have no problems fighting back should he? All is fair. Interesting comments John Biggs, so one committing an offence many years ago can claim according to your logic “You were simply part of the military culture of that time”. And that makes it all ok then? Once a prick, always a prick.
This media tart and attention seeker is getting what he wanted.
Did you actually read the article “http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/pokies-crusader-andrew-wilkie-says-he-was-a-duntroon-bastard/story-e6frfhqf-1226039361126”
A student that he bastardised went to the media. I dont think he works in pokies.
If this was Tony Abbott I doubt you been saying anything nice about the man would you?
Jane Rankin-Reid
April 14, 2011 at 15:47
Michael Swanton is right, rather than just attempting to use Wilkie’s Duntroon past against him to damage his political integrity, why doesn’t the poker industry join the chorus of condemnation against ADF bullying?
Philip Lowe
April 14, 2011 at 16:47
So Wilkie isn’t/wasn’t perfect,who was?The timing of all this stinks.
abs
April 14, 2011 at 16:48
so Sam, do you support or oppose the pokie reforms? we know what you think of wilke
Robin Halton
April 14, 2011 at 17:08
Dredging up Wilkies past as a Cadet Officer has absolutely nothing to do with what is happening in Australia today with the overwhelming gambling problems that are dragging down Australian society.
Wilkies involvement with the military if anything, has been up a wake up call about the purpose of the Iraq war for which the public have been made aware of.
I think that most of us want a fair go for Australians, by a reduction in the effects of pokies by putting a fairer and more reasonable system in place to protect those at risk.
Ian
April 14, 2011 at 17:21
Wilkie has previously detailed some, if not all, of this information. It isn’t new and he’s handling it well.
I agree with Sam’s first 2 sentences in #11. Rather than having a whinge, Wilkie is fighting his own battle and doing a pretty good job of it.
Sam’s “media tart” comment is an odd ad hominem attack. How else do you get your ideas out and try to convince the public?
I won’t go into how inoffensive a salute really is because, well, it might offend some people. It only has power over if you let it. It does not mean anyone has forgotten what happened.
ALF1
April 14, 2011 at 18:22
Last word on this blog but if bastardisation is an accepted part of Australian army culture, it must only be relegated to officer-training and should be eradicated. Its bullshit to think bastardisation is part of the process, unless you’re a masochist. But if Federal’s has dragged the dirt out here in some token way of harming Wilkie’s credibility it paves the way for other simple truths to emerge. I reckon there are a lot of retired State pollies now terrified of this thing turning really dirty.
Daffy
April 14, 2011 at 18:27
I am stunned by how not a single contributor has drawn the most likely and realistic conclusion as to why and how this story has come out.
Did people not see the reference at the end of the Mercury story saying that the gentleman making these complaints against Wilkie was related to one of the two reporters who wrote the story?
Now, having that fact pointed out to you, please consider the following conclusion:
The gentleman who claimed Wilkie bastardised him when he was at Duntroon clearly feels bitter about that experience (well, wouldn’t you?).
The gentleman sees that Wilkie is in the headlines and tells his story to his nephew / cousin / whatever relation who happens to be a journalist.
The journalist is interested because Wilkie is in the spotlight and he knows it’s a front page story.
But, no, given Wilkie is on the left side of politics, opposing the “establishment”, it can only be that this is some vast right-wing conspiracy.
I would also question what would the response be from some of the posters above if this was Tony Abbott that was being accused of having been a bastard when he was younger?
Jane Rankin-Reid et al, can you really put your hands on your collective hearts and say you would not be singing a different tune?
I think the comments would be along the lines of: “Well it’s taken him (the former cadet) a while, but good on him for speaking up and exposing the real Tony Abbott.”
Now I would like to see Jane Rankin-Reid et al withdrawing their assertions above that the poker industry was involved in this story and admit there is no evidence to that end.
Further, I would point out that Wilkie is handling this rather poorly. In addition to his explanation, should he not apologise? I am sure that such a demand would be made of the aforementioned Mr Abbott.
I await with baited breath replies to my points.
salamander
April 14, 2011 at 18:47
Wilkie is more upfront and honest than most politicians with something murky in the past – but is this the worst that can be found against him? There will be huge excavations going on to find something usable in the next election, as neither Liberal nor Labor will be fighting clean, particularly now Wilkie has proven how much better off Denison can be with an Independent member. If only this could lead to an outbreak of Independents gaining office in Tasmania. Then we could really see changes.
Max Bound
April 14, 2011 at 19:34
The misrepresentation of the reality of the sort of person Andrew Wilkie is says much about those supporters of Federal Hotels who write to try and denigrate a courageous person. Andrew put his career and much more on the line in an act that took a great deal of courage when he blew the whistle on the IRAQ fiasco. Being blind to the culture that is part of Australian and most other military organisations, particularly at higher levels is, in this situation a backdoor way of support for Federal Hotels. Trying to defend those who profit from the weaknesses of the problem gamblers is actually an act of surrender to the real institutionl bullies namely the powerful corporations. The families of problem gamblers are usually the people who suffer.
As regards Andrew’s past, an above post correctly points to the need to ‘join the chorus of condemnation against ADF bullying.” To continue to try and deny that such bullying takes place is now futile. But one or two comments above choose to attack a highly competent person who is fighting the present day bullies in our society. Wilkie needs to be judged on his present important, positive and consistent actions in the interests of people. His well earned role as a member of our Federal Parliament is what now counts not some distorted picture of an incident in the long gone past.
barking toad
April 14, 2011 at 20:13
Revelations of Wilkie’s shortcomings as a young adult wouldn’t attract so much attention but for his sanctimonious offerings as an electorate and party swapping politician.
His efforts could be excused as being young and stupid. What’s his excuse now he’s older?
Michael Swanton
April 14, 2011 at 20:55
#18. Absolutely! If you provide evidence, not speculation or hearsay, together with your real identity. Michael Swanton.
James
April 14, 2011 at 21:06
Well said Daffy.
Why is it acceptable on this site to slander Eric Abetz because of his family background (which is not something he had any control over) yet it is unacceptable on this site to dredge up Andrew Wilkie’s past actions?(which he had control of)
Why is it acceptable for Andrew Wilkie to say that he can’t recall this incident, yet whenever a Lib/Lab politician or other public figure says “I do not recall” or “no comment” they are automatically accused of being dishonest by the average commenter on this site?
Ian
April 14, 2011 at 21:14
@21: “Party swapping”? Ah, you’re referring to Wilkie not being able to find a party with close enough ideals to his own so going it alone. Sticking to your guns and not wanting to toe the party line isn’t such a bad trait I would’ve thought. It gets things done.
russell
April 14, 2011 at 21:28
Mr Wilkie has been forecasting this for a few days now and sure enough, the industry spends heaps trying to dredge up….normal basic training procedure. wow. Federals would do well to explain to Tasmanians when they intend to pay our government and all of us our proper dues for the “exclusive pokies licence”. Tell us. When will we be paid all those extra millions? We want to spend it on our hospitals and schools.
Tim Thorne
April 14, 2011 at 21:37
Bullying and bastardisation have always been and in all likelihood will always continue to be part of military training. They are the most effective means of dehumanising cadets so as to make them able to kill when necessary with minimal negative psychological consequences.
Some can overcome the effects of this and turn out to be decent human beings. I know plenty of former military officers who are now compassionate and useful members of civil society. It seems to me, from what I know of him, that Andrew Wilkie is one of those.
As for those posters above who are asking whether Wilkie supporters would take the same stand if it had been Tony Abbott’s past under discussion, all I can say is that I certainly would disregard any such hypothetical revelation, for the simple reason that Abbott stands condemned by his present policies and words; there is no need to drag up his past.
Wilkie should be supported for his stand against pokies and for his statements concerning such issues as the Iraq War and climate change. It is the policies that are important, not the individual.
Mark
April 14, 2011 at 21:52
Well, News Ltd has achieved its end. Many aligned to party politics squabbling while the usual ‘we wuz robbed’ whingers in the peanut gallery hold their collective breaths waiting for one of the turncoat independents to topple. Ain’t gunna happen people for some time, if ever.
Admittedly, I have not read the absolute detail of News Ltd’s article and have no intention of doing so. Mr Wilkie is not in my electorate. I do not think he is the new Messiah or Brian for that matter. Mr Wilkie seems to be doing what appears to be his best.
I have a few Qs:
1. Has anyone asked if the ex-cadet has been paid for his story?
2. Does he have any party affiliations?
3. How did the journalist obtain the ADF information on Andrew Wilkie?
4. Has the Liberal Party provided any of this information?
I also note the Q posed by others, “Has News Ltd any financial stake in any gambling houses or avenues such as Betfair, NRL/AFL betting, poker machines or casinos?
Before anyone accuses me of partisan politics, I also believe Pauline Hanson was treated in a worse manner under Howard and, no, I do not agree with her politics.
It is also my opinion the ad campaign by the Gaming and Club industry is turning to ‘crap.’ A complete waste of the reported $20m. I wonder how much News Ltd’s cut was of that budget? Any bets?
PS The photographs of Andrew Wilkie were clearly selected for their negative imagery.
Pete Godfrey
April 14, 2011 at 22:04
It appears that jokes about Hitler are pretty common, wasn’t it one of the British Royal Princes who was photographed dressed as a Nazi soldier at a party?
We all do stupid things when we are young, we don’t think of the consequences at the time.
To dredge up things from 30 years ago is what Dirt Units do.
What about the things Andrew Wilkie did not so long ago when he alerted us to the lies being told to the Australian people about the Iraq war.
The only thing this shows is that he is being effective.
Good on you Mr Wilkie, keep going.
mark
April 14, 2011 at 22:08
Didn’t take Andrew Rule long to start trawling gutters and diving into dumpsters. They turn them into company men fast at News Ltd.
maaate
April 14, 2011 at 22:32
@#6 “I can’t stand pub and sould-destroying pokies, but I hate something much worse; regulating human behaviour by legislation”
Oh good, you won’t report me when I come around and thrash some sense into you? We wouldn’t want to regulate destructive human behaviour would we? That’s your stupid conservative libertarian platitude for you…addicts just need self control…
Anyway, it looks like everyone I went to school with will be ineligible for public service as Hitler jokes and Nazi salutes were all the rage. And poor Prince Harry…he’s a goner too with his bad taste in fancy dress.
The hysteria around anything to do with Nazis has reached fever pitch. Why has this suddenly become political death? Normally rednecks would be railing against “political correctness”. Is this the right kind of political correctness?
But that’s not the point is it? The point is pokie operators are no better than drug dealers who profit by exploiting drug addicts’ misery. Just don’t try to intervene, these parasites turn very nasty.
alan
April 14, 2011 at 22:54
It is a brave man who stands in the way of the pot of gold sought by the greedy exploiters of human frailties and the world’s natural resources. From the start those who participate in those kinds of enterprises are unlikely to have a conscience and when it comes to a fight to protect their interests history has shown that they have no scruples. The fate of Donald Mackay and the victims of the Chinese opium wars are a couple of examples.
Phil Davis
April 15, 2011 at 01:19
We all know the real agenda here, it’s assassination by media, big deal if Andrew Wilkie was a bit of a clown when he was younger, weren’t we all??
To the mainstream media, no wonder your readership is declining, our family makes a point of no longer reading printed media, we realised long ago it’s just become the spin mouthpiece of big business and corrupt government.
russell
April 15, 2011 at 03:16
Dear Ed,
We thought our response and comment about the propensities of the daffy barking toads was perhaps relevant to the course of this thread, not to mention even possibly being humorous. Put away, with those red pens for now, we pray you.!! Now is the time to get stuck in. To the poker machine rascals that is. Who are they now?
ALF1
April 15, 2011 at 10:59
Well#30, you really should get a more appropriate nom de plume. ‘Mate’ conjures up imagery of camaraderie as we head to the Dawn Service cenotaphs across the country to pay tribute to real men and women who annihilated armies of apostates of evil people who tried vainly to ‘thrash sense’ into those who believed in freedom and free-speech.Bet you won’t be there. Your blonde-haired, fair-eyed hero doesn’t deserve to stand amongst men he bastardised. But he’ll be there. He’s a polly now. Lots of votes for pollies looking distant and sombre in the brilliant glow of sacrifice.Might I suggest ‘mite’?
ALF1
April 15, 2011 at 11:14
#26, you’ve been around for yonks, Tim. Plenty of time for you to have taken up the fight against the demon pokies. You’ve been sniping from the shadows since crystal radios. You could have taken your rightful place in the Big House years ago and wiped them out even before Andrew graduated as a ‘bastard Nazi-lover’.
Michael Swanton
April 15, 2011 at 13:16
#33. Hilarious. Michael Swanton.#33 .Hilarious. #33 .Hilarious.
Tim Thorne
April 15, 2011 at 15:11
ALF (#35), one does what one can within the limits of one’s capabilities and energy. I’m afraid you overestimate my tiny amount of influence (as well as my age).
Jane Rankin-Reid
April 15, 2011 at 15:15
Daffy, my post is clearly not what you have quoted me as saying. Instead, I wrote; “Michael Swanton is right, rather than just attempting to use Wilkie’s Duntroon past against him to damage his political integrity, why doesn’t the poker industry join the chorus of condemnation against ADF bullying?”
Let me be perfectly clear as you are evidently not understanding what I’d written; I am vigorously against the state government of Tasmania’s subsidy of the Federal Hotels group through its mishandled pricing of the poker licensing. I dread the economic cost and social consequence of the subsequent over saturation and dependence on poker machines’ profits, 40% of which are played by problem gamblers. In other words, the industry badly needs its “problem” gamblers to remain addicted, otherwise, its profits would decrease by 40%. What a cynical equation!
I am also very much against bullying. Personally, I find the choice of a military career in peace time to be somewhat narrow, but that is Wilkie’s business. The issue Michael Swanton raised was however far more subtle; if the poker industry cared for more than just the opportunity of making a political hit on Wilkie’s integrity, they too would have joined the chorus condemning cadet bullying in the ADF.
Jane Rankin-Reid
April 15, 2011 at 15:31
The other important question raised on this forum is worth addressing; if it had been Tony Abbott, or Eric Abetz’ past deeds or relatives in the case of Abetz, would the Left be quite so understanding, sympathetic? Sadly, I suspect not, but I sincerely hope I am wrong. There have been recent incidents in Australian politics when opponents have compared one another to Nazi party members. There is no excuse for this, as it is about as insulting to those who suffered so brutally under the Nazis as it is cheap and demeaning to the subjects of the insult. Politicians and commentators who resort to this sort of grotesque slander should properly be stood in the grown ups naughty corner until the message sinks in; other people’s ghastly history is not your’s to play with with such cynical profligacy, nor is it an opportunity for a free kick at claiming sincerity over an opponent.
Otherwise, I warmly agree that Abetz’ citizenship issues should have been more openly and promptly clarified. He has earned my mistrust in not supplying ready answers to these honest questions, and others. But this does not make him a Nazi, just an enduringly unpleasant man with little if anything positive to offer the electorate and the people of Tasmania.
Ben Quin
April 15, 2011 at 18:10
I do not agree that this current focus on Mr. Wilkie is simply part of an orchestrated beat-up by the pokies industry. His unrelenting stance is deserving of tough scrutiny by a much wider group than just the pokies industry and those with an interest in gambling reform.
Wilkie’s obsession with pokies reform is unhealthy for Australia. It may save problem gamblers from blowing their money (though there are plenty of substitutes available to them), but it does not serve the national interest for pokies reform to be dominating the political agenda right now.
The Gillard Government has more pressing matters to focus on and Wilkie’s “do it now or I’ll bring you down†ultimatum is undermining of effective government and is totally out of order.
Wilkie has form. Prime Minister Gillard should refuse to allow Australians to be bastardised in this way. After all, megalomania is just another type of addiction which should not be tolerated, either in the Defence Forces or our democracy.
Ben Quin
Daffy
April 15, 2011 at 18:33
Spot on Ben Quinn. The most likely explanation for the origin of this story remains that the reporter came upon this story due to his family relationship with the former cadet making the claims. That it was published so prominently is due to Wilkie’s current prominence in national politics. The herald sun today challenged Wilkie to back his claims that the pokie industry is behind this story. It will be interesting to see his response. I fully support what Wilkie is trying to achieve, I despise the pokies. But for one man to hold the government to ransom to get his way on a relatively minor issue is not in the interests of democracy. Wilkie’s conduct now and in the past speaks volumes of the man.
John Wade
April 15, 2011 at 22:02
“I would also question what would the response be from some of the posters above if this was Tony Abbott that was being accused of having been a bastard when he was younger?” – the difference is that Abbot and Abetz haven’t changed or grown up. No conscience, no ethics!
“Wilkie’s obsession with pokies reform is unhealthy for Australia.” – I am not so sure about that. Social diseases are unhealthy for the country. By getting this one thing moving will allow the next reforms to be met and dealt with. What is more important than a healthy society?
mike seabrook
April 16, 2011 at 23:39
if mr wilkie wishes to benefit the victims of the pokies & their families he should consider not compulsion, but going for the juggler against the pokies owners & venue owners etc, who are no doubt quietly chearing on these attacks on his credibility. ( & also the libs as well whilst he is sucking up to the lab-greens).
i believe the science has been done on the behavioural aspect of deliberate & systematic suckering in of less informed people by small wins & bright lights & sounds etc.
consider the following & reread it with pokies owner/venue replacing gs & the pokies bet replacing financial instruments. etc. etcx. as appropriate.
as a minimum the pokies should have prominent health/wealth warnings displayed on them detailing the odds etc, like as for cigarettes.
from huffington post
” Goldman Sachs, the nation’s fifth-largest bank by assets, systematically misled clients, sold them financial instruments it knew to be junk, bet against them and profited off of their losses, according to a Senate report released this week.
The report, the product of a two-year investigation, paints the firm as Exhibit A of Wall Street’s evolution from a place that raises and deploys capital to worthy businesses into a vulturous creature that preys on unwitting investors.
Goldman’s conduct in the two years leading up to the near-implosion of the financial system show a firm dedicated to “sticking it to their own clients,” said Senator Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat who chairs the panel that produced the report. “Goldman gained at the expense of their clients, and used abusive practices to do it.””
Greg James
April 18, 2011 at 21:39
Ben Quin #40, when would it be good to tackle pokies, after 16 years in this state, with a full womens prison from problem gaming addicts, which you pay for daily, would you like to wait another year for the parasites to bankrupt another family, another company and your community.
What sort of comment is that to say…’Wilkie’s obsession with pokies reform is unhealthy for Australia…but it does not serve the national interest for pokies reform to be dominating the political agenda right now’.
So when would you like to start… in another 16 years. I think you underestimate either Abbotts or Gillards ability to multi task. This is not a game, this is a disaster for Australia’s addicted. Please read the Productivity Commissions report, this is about broken families, children with imprisoned parents and parasites delivering the greatest money for nothing scam ever perpetrated on the Australian public.
Keith Antonysen
April 19, 2011 at 21:54
Well said Greg James #45, with the number of people getting into financial trouble committing suicide, I suppose a percentage of money earnt by pokies can be considered blood money.