Aussie of Year blighted by Jedi Council and Obi-Cate McGregor
The YouTube general gives radio silence on his handling of maligned soldiers
Bye-bye to a swell guy, the 2016 Australian of the Year, ABC Online, January 25, 2016:
Former Army chief David Morrison said he was “almost at a loss for words” after he was named the 2016 Australian of the Year for his commitment to gender equality, diversity and inclusion.
Don’t say “guy”, The Advertiser, June 1, 2016:
“I have now removed that (the word guys) from my lexicon as best I can; I think it’s important,” General Morrison said.
Morrison’s online speech made him the nation’s biggest internet star since Troye Sivan, YouTube, June 12, 2013:
On all operations, female soldiers and officers have proven themselves worthy of the best traditions of the Australian Army. If that doesn’t suit you, get out.
Army speechwriter Cate McGregor peeved she didn’t get the gong, Star Observer, January 27, 2016:
“I felt really sad that they (National Australia Day Council) did not have the courage to go with an LGBTI person … it was a weak and conventional choice.”
She doesn’t care now. Nah, mate. Not one bit. The Australian, December 22, 2016:
Prominent transgender figure Catherine McGregor has been removed from the Australian of the Year honour roll at her own request.
The sex scandal that made Morrison famous, ABC Online, November 14, 2013
Six members of the Army have been sacked over a scandal involving the distribution of explicit emails that denigrate women.
Some scandal, Townsville Bulletin, October 21, 2016:
Former lieutenant-general Morrison, who was in Townsville yesterday to promote gender equality in the workplace, angrily refused to answer questions over his dismissal in 2013 of the commanding officer of the Joint Logistics Unit North Queensland, former lieutenant-colonel Karel Dubsky.
Mr Dubsky was relieved of his command after it emerged he had been sent an email — which he said he did not open — from the infamous “Jedi Council’’ ring of soldiers who allegedly distributed material detailing sexual encounters on the defence email network.
Former lieutenant colonel Dubsky speaking to the ABC’s 7.30, November 23, 2016:
I broke down in March of 2014 and I didn’t want to be here any more. Just ... and tried to kill myself.
Townsville Bulletin, continued:
In 2013, when referring to officers who may have received emails but did not respond, Mr Morrison said they may well have deleted them immediately. “But the question I have for them is why didn’t you do something about it,” he said at the time. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He did know? Whoops. ABC’s 7.30, continued:
The police report suggests his office did know, stating that on 31 July 2012, a senior member of David Morrison’s office was told about the case and replied, “I think the Chief of Army needs to know about it. I will tell him.”
Morrison now has more time with his mates. The Age, June 7, 2014:
Sharing a stage with international film star Angelina Jolie was probably the last thing on Chief of Army David Morrison’s mind ...