Fiji Colonel’s secret pay deal ‘could upset Pacific ties’, says Defence

The Albanese government is refusing to reveal how much Australians are paying an allegerd Fijian military torturer, warning the information could undermine the nation’s Pacific ties.

Colonel Penioni (Ben) Naliva during a January, 2024 welcoming ceremony to mark his appointment as deputy commander of the Australian Army's 7th Brigade. Picture: Defence

The Albanese government is refusing to reveal how much  an alleged Fijian military torturer is being paid, saying privacy and “international relations sensitivities” require the information to be kept secret.

Defence says Fijian Col­onel Penioni (Ben) Naliva is receiving a taxpayer-funded pay bump on top of his Fiji army salary “to accommodate the change in cost of living in Australia”.

“This is standard practice under the Defence Co-operation Program seconded officer program,” the department said, in a response to a question on notice from Greens’ senator David Shoebridge.

It said Colonel Naliva’s salary was subject to tax and other deductions including for rent and water, but full details of his package were confidential.

“Defence is unable to provide further information on the specific amount requested due to privacy and international relations sensitivities,” it said.

The Australian revealed exclusively on Monday that Col­onel Naliva had been removed from his post as deputy commander of the Australian Army’s 7th Brigade, amid allegations he was involved in the torture of detainees in Fiji.

The one-time right-hand man to former Fiji coup leader and prime minister Frank Bainimarama will now be posted to the Australian Defence College, where he will “contribute to ­Pacific-related research projects”.

Colonel Naliva is welcomed to the Australian Army's 7th Brigade as its deputy commander. Picture: Defence

Colonel Naliva is alleged to have been involved in several incidents of torture, including a violent beating of two Fijian politicians, with one victim claiming the soldier tried to force an M16 rifle barrel into his anus during an interrogation.

Senator Shoebridge accused Defence of “hiding behind” diplomatic sensitivities, saying he would continue to press for answers on the alleged torturer’s “scandalous appointment”.

“How can anyone seriously believe that relations with Fiji will be harmed if we find out what Defence is paying a foreign military officer from Fiji?” he said. “Given Colonel Naliva’s history, it is almost certainly offensive, but that is not a valid reason for secrecy.”

A colonel in the Australian Army can earn up to $230,000, plus allowances.

Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell has admitted he was ultimately responsible for the decision to appoint Colonel Naliva as a commander of 3500 Australian soldiers, and the ADF had failed to conduct independent checks on the soldier. “Unfortunately … the process that we undertook was not as comprehensive as perhaps we all might have preferred,” he told a Senate estimates hearing in February.

A Defence spokesman said Col­onel Naliva had “accepted an alternative posting to the Australian Defence College where he will contribute to Pacific-related research projects. Defence will continue to support (him) while he remains posted to Australia.”

Col­onel Naliva’s redeployment comes amid claims the Albanese government has turned a blind eye to his alleged human rights abuses as it seeks to counter Chinese influence in the Pacific.

Colonel Naliva was awarded the prestigious position in the 7th Brigade despite allegations he was involved in the mistreatment of detainees, with former Fiji MP Sam Speight claiming the soldier tried to force an M16 rifle barrel into his anus during interrogation.

And youth activist Peter Waqavonovono said the soldier had been present when he was detained and tortured in 2006, and did nothing to stop it.

The UN Special Rapporteur also named then-major Naliva in a 2011 report to the Human Rights Council as being involved in the savage beating of Suva businessman Ben Padarath.