Save Our Heroes: Darren Chester accused of criticising veteran suicide royal commission push
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Darren Chester has been accused of privately criticising a Daily Telegraph campaign for a royal commission into veteran suicide during a fiery radio interview. READ THE EXCHANGE.
NSW
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The Veterans’ Affairs Minister has faced a grilling during a fiery radio interview in which he was accused of privately criticising a Daily Telegraph push for a royal commission into veteran suicide.
Darren Chester has yet to commit his support for an inquiry and told a grieving mother last month that while the “initiatives were great” he isn’t supporting a commission because “it will bog the DVA down for two years.”
Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay have all backed the Save Our Heroes campaign.
During a live interview with 2GB Radio host Ben Fordham this afternoon, Mr Chester insisted he supported the Telegraph’s campaign but was called out by the broadcaster as “pretending” and slammed for being “extremely critical” behind closed doors.
READ THE FULL EXCHANGE:
Fordham: “In fact, The Daily Telegraph, who has been running a ‘Save Our Heroes’ campaign, pushing for this [a royal commission], along with some of us on radio and other parts of the media. You’ve been against that campaign, you’ve been against all of this stuff.
Chester: “Well Ben that is simply not true.”
F: “It is true. It is true.”
C: “I have spoken to The Daily Telegraph and supported them in their campaign.”
F: “Minister, hang on, I am calling you out. Don’t tell me you have not been privately critical of The Daily Telegraph campaign. You have been.”
C: “Ben I have spoken to The Daily Telegraph and spoken to Support Our Veterans because I believe if we work together and in partnership we achieve a great deal more.”
F: “Are you telling me Minister that you have not been privately critical of The Daily Telegraph’s Save Our Heroes campaign? Are you seriously telling me that? No you are not are you? Because privately you are being extremely critical of the campaign run by The Daily Telegraph so don’t pretend you’re a fan even if you’ve sucked up to them in hindsight and telling them you are”
C: “Do you want me to respond Ben, or?”
F: “Well I’d appreciate you don’t bullsh*t me because that’s what you just did.”
C: “Well Ben I’m not trying to do that to you at all, what I’m trying to say is the more we can work in partnership with the media, with the organisations like yours and with the Telegraph to actually present the positive stories well about military service, because the vast majority of people we serve will transition well and go on to have important and valued civilian careers. The more we can tell that story the better, but also recognising I have an obligation, the Department of Veteran Affairs has an obligation to support the veterans and their families that struggle and now what I’m trying to do in looking for the best possible response for the government in terms of mental health, wellbeing and suicide prevention.”
F: “Right. So when will you make a decision on the royal commission because this has gone on far too long and there are too many families that are devastated by this.”
C: Well the Prime Minister has made it very clear and he has answered a question today in parliament that he was considering all the options in front of him and we are making these decisions at a point in time in the future.”
F: “At a point in time in the future?”
C: “Well they’re his words. They’re not my words. I’m not exactly sure of the date of that decision but the PM …”
F: “Well you know it’s going to happen. There’s going to be a royal commission into this issue whether you like it or not, you do realise that?”
C: “Well Ben I appreciate your interest in this issue.”