“To look the other way when serious and credible allegations of war crimes come to light would be profound hypocrisy that would reflect poorly on the national character. Yet this is exactly what our government has done,” writes political columnist MICHAEL MOORE. 

How can the Australian government pursue charges against an Australian soldier at the same time as supporting a world leader convicted of genocide?

And another who provides the weapons and assists in the slaughter of innocents. The hypocrisy is mind blowing.

The fundamental question for the government is whether they support Australian and international law regarding war crimes or not. Or do we just throw our hands up and say, “war is war”.

Victoria Cross winner Ben Roberts-Smith has been charged with murder. It is alleged that the victims were detained, unarmed and were under the control of ADF members when they were killed.

Although charged with war crimes, it is a fundamental Australian right that he be considered innocent until his day in court.

The assertion is that Roberts-Smith shot some of the alleged victims himself and, in other cases, ordered subordinates to do so.

The Canberra Times editorialised after Roberts-Smith was arrested that “looking the other way on alleged war crimes would be profound hypocrisy”. The editorial correctly emphasised that the “presumption of innocence must be front and centre in any commentary about these matters. People must step back, take a deep breath, and wait for due process”.

“The people who first raised these matters were not members of the media or outsiders. They were soldiers who had fought alongside the accused and who had also experienced the ‘fog of war’.”

An alternative view was put by Coalition spokesperson on Veterans Affairs Michael McCormack, who argued, “nobody who hasn’t worn a uniform, nobody who hasn’t been sent to war… understands what he’s gone through,” and added that such people do not understand “the complexities of war.”

Similar sentiments were expressed by his colleagues including Opposition Leader Angus Taylor and Defence Spokesperson James Paterson. At least they were not the ones being hypocritical. They have vigorously defended the actions of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu and the US President, Donald Trump even though these leaders of Israel and the US played a key role in wreaking devastation on a range of civilians in Gaza, Iran and Lebanon.

Where was the editorialising when one of the initial attacks by US forces on Iran killed more than 100 schoolchildren?

Why is it that Australia must not look the other way when it comes to a person who has received the highest decoration possible for bravery, but we can look the other way at even worse crimes when it comes to actions of the government of Israel?

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shown respect for the presumption of innocence by refusing any commentary on the arrest and charges of Ben Roberts-Smith. The appropriate time for the Prime Minister to comment is when the court has established innocence or guilt. 

The International Court of Justice has been very clear in declaring Benjamin Netenyahu a war criminal who has oversighted a genocide. It is way past time for comment and action.

Why is it that we can look the other way when President Trump announces that killing a few civilians is not enough? He is willing, he has said, to bomb Iran back to the Stone Ages. Is it okay to kill tens of thousands of civilians when the weapons are bombs and missiles – but not okay when in close quarters?

How is that we can still tolerate allowing Israel to have an embassy in Australia? Why would the government invite President Herzog here to Australia? Why fete him in visiting Government House, ASIO and other official functions when he represents a country whose prime minister has been found guilty of genocide? Not charged with an offence – found guilty.

As a country we are oozing hypocrisy.

To look the other way when serious and credible allegations of war crimes come to light would be an act of profound hypocrisy that would reflect very poorly on the national character. And yet this is exactly what our government has done regarding the conflict in the Middle East. 

Australia needs to live up to its strict ethical codes. Until a verdict arrives, the presumption of innocence remains paramount. However, it also requires us to take action on the other front.

To avoid hypocrisy, it is time to expel the Israeli ambassador from Australia and to step away from our close alliance with the US under Donald Trump.

Michael Moore is a former member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and an independent minister for health. He has been a political columnist with “CityNews” since 2006.