“Kerry Stokes picked up the tab for Roberts-Smith’s and the Nine Network’s legal costs, which amounted to some $40 million – but the war hero’s reputation was destroyed, and with it that of the Australian military.”

“The trial judge disbelieved Roberts-Smith’s testimony, and the evidence led at trial disclosed that, as well as having killed unarmed civilians, he was also an adulterer and had bullied and threatened his fellow soldiers.”

“The trial, interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic concluded in 2023, with the trial judge finding – on the civil ‘balance of probabilities’ onus of proof – that the key allegations made against Roberts-Smith were true.”

“The evidence led at his defamation trial is inadmissible, and his guilt or innocence will be decided on the basis of the more onerous ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ criminal onus of proof.”

“The events in question took place almost twenty years ago in far away Afghanistan, and there is little or no forensic evidence as to what occurred.”

“Greens Senator David Shoebridge welcomed Roberts-Smith being charged saying that “being a decorated soldier was not meant to be legal protection from complicity in war crimes.””

“Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and newly appointed mainstream conservative Liberal leader Angus Taylor declined to comment”

“Former Liberal Prime Minister John Howard – who sent Australian troops to Afghanistan at the behest of George W. Bush – said that the war hero’s arrest “will tug at the heart strings of millions of Australians” and described Roberts-Smith as “the modern personification of the great Anzac tradition.””

“Another former Liberal prime minister, Tony Abbott, opined that “it is wrong to judge the actions of men in mortal combat by the standards of ordinary civilian life””

“Abbott has also urged the Albanese government to immediately send troops to Iran to support Donald Trump’s mission to “destroy the Iranian war machine””

“It was Pauline Hanson, however, the leader of the populist right-wing One Nation party – funded and backed by Gina Rinehart – who was the most strident defender of Roberts-Smith.”

“Basking in the glow of her party’s recent dramatic surge in popularity – One Nation is now attracting 30% of voters and has displaced the mainstream conservative Liberal/National party coalition as the most popular opposition party to Labor – Hanson described Roberts-Smith’s arrest as “an absolute set up” and declared her unwavering support for him.”

“Gina Rinehart also supported Roberts-Smith saying “I don’t understand the arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith over alleged war crimes.””