The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, is refusing to be intimidated by a pokies industry smear campaign against his character.
“In the past two days, I’ve received a death threat, been threatened with the existence of compromising photos and am having my past as a Cadet at Duntroon nearly 30 years ago trawled over,’’ Mr Wilkie said.
“Two days ago the pokies industry commenced its campaign against my reforms to reduce problem gambling, including a $20m public disinformation campaign.
“That some in the industry would stoop to a smear campaign against me is unsurprising.
“It says a lot more about the pokies industry than it does about Andrew Wilkie.
“Moreover the smear campaign shows that this industry, which profits enormously from human misery, will stop at absolutely nothing to prevent these historic poker machine reforms.
“While I do not intend to give a running commentary about each new accusation, what I will say is I was judged fit to graduate from Duntroon and went on to have a successful military career, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
“There’s nothing new in this – I described my Duntroon experience in a book I wrote in 2004 (Axis of Deceit) and again just last month on ABC Radio’s Conversations with Richard Fidler.
“Importantly, during my military and subsequent intelligence careers I was repeatedly security cleared and character checked to the highest levels in the country.
“Further politically and commercially motivated attacks on my character will not be deserving of a reply.”
Conversations with Richard Fidler: http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/03/28/3175813.htm?site=conversationsµsite=conversations§ion=article&date=(none)
Download the relevant section of Axis of Deceit:
Axis_of_Deceit.pdf
