Scott Morrison ‘deeply disappointed’ at Ben Roberts-Smith accusers

Scott Morrison says he’s disappointed at VC winner Ben Roberts-Smith’s treatment by the media and, allegedly, former colleagues.

Ben Roberts-Smith with his wife Emma. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen.

Scott Morrison says he is deeply disappointed at the recent treatment of Victoria Cross winner Ben Roberts-Smith by the media and, allegedly, former Defence colleagues.

Mr Roberts-Smith has taken Fairfax Media to court over reports alleging he was involved in war crimes and bullying which he said were “completely without any foundation in truth”.

The Prime Minister said he was disappointed by the treatment of the Afghanistan war hero and by alleged leaking against from within the Australian Defence department.

“Those who are responsible for that, they’re just not showing any of the values,” he told 2GB.

“You know Canberra, you know the Canberra bubble. These things deeply disappoint me. There are processes for dealing with serious issues but they are not processes for being dealt with in newspapers.

“Everyone should be treated with respect, especially those who have served our country.”

In a defence document presented to the Federal Court last month by Fairfax Media, the organisation accused Mr Roberts-Smith of the murder, or being complicit in the murder, of six Afghan males and of bullying Army colleagues. Mr Roberts-Smith denied the allegations.

“I and my legal team look forward to revealing to the court the malicious intent of Fairfax Media which persisted in publishing these allegations even after they were warned that the claims they were making were false, and to demonstrating that whatever witnesses they are supposedly relying upon could not possibly be telling the truth,” he said at the time.