Not sure our laws are respected by terrorist groups.
If we do not obey and enforce our own laws, we are no better than those terrorists.
The courts will decide. That is why we have them and that is why they are independent.
Trial by media or by the public (who never know all of the facts) is never the answer.
Cheers,
Peter
What I do found amazing, is that you have no problem to remember and commemorate ANZAC, where lots of innocent people died including our own soldiers, like you feel you are part of them and are proud of, to the point to even show a bullet, but you have a problem supporting an Australian soldier that it is still alive and that needs your support NOW..
I just leave it there, because personally, all this make me sick...
Peter, you've posted a response after I posted this.
I am very interested in your response.
So again
"Peter youve posted a map of Australia showing the extent of your travels. I would be very surprised if you havent stayed at aboriginal town camps which been in the news recently for a profoundly sad reason. Did you ever see violence against women or children and did you intervene or turn the other way? If so, why? I have an aboriginal half sister who lives in a camp near Barrow Creek. I have some knowledge of what goes on, in a small area."
Peter_n_Margaret said
02:50 PM May 15, 2026
Ineedabiggerboat wrote:
I am very interested in your response.
Totally off topic.
Cheers,
Peter
Yep, as I suspected.
my father was exempt from enlisting due to being classed as essential services but he registered anyway turns out one of the girls who processes the paper work was a shorty an took a pile of enlistment papers to sit on he didn't get the callup till just before the end of the war by the time he did his basic training the war was over
This is obviously a very emotive situation for all concerned, but wearing buttons will not have any effect on the court's decision nor should it. None of us really know what went on out there, but I'm sure that we all hope that he is innocent. Peter is right in what he said. The rule of law has to be respected and adhered to, as the alternative is chaos. Ben Roberts Smith is a very brave man, you don't get a VC for cooking in the mess tent, and it would be a great shame if his reputation was ruined by one bad decision, should that be the case.
__________________
"Nothing so needs reforming as other peoples habits."
I cannot attend ANZAC DAY anymore, nor have I done so for more then 6 years, I just can't handle it. I am not a war veteran, but am classed as a veteran, have I done service overseas - yes, in active zones as well, and for other matters that the normal average everyday soldier would not normally be involved in, I enjoyed doing those jobs because I found out that certain things were true, and made me a believer forever more, I very much respect true veteran soldiers whom have been in the thick of it, and am very happy and lucky, that I did not have to myself. LEST WE FORGET.
Everybody has to cease and desist on this matter! OKAY, for the the person concerned to get a fair trial, for the prosecution to be able to justly prosecute the matter fairly, for the defense to be able to defend the matter, and most importantly the Jurors to be able to not be influenced by outside view points of members of the public,
As most of you should have done some jury duty, you know you are not to be influenced by outside of the case public view points and opinions, but whether you like it or not, you are influenced by this unqualified opinions., if you were the person concerned, you would want a fair trial as well, so yes PLEASE CEASE AND DESIST!>
-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Monday 18th of May 2026 09:04:49 AM
And to make sure blokes understand the post I wrote above about not attending ANZAC DAY anymore has nothing to do with this legal case, it has more to do with "odd objects" being somewhere where we would not expect them to be, this is all I can say about the matter.
The case had been under investigation for years. His barrister stated that his client had offered to turn himself in. Yet the arrest was orchestrated to be made in the most public way possible, with Channel 9 cameras set up and waiting at the highly secure Sydney Airport tarmac. They could easily have chosen a far quiter venue, even in private.
It is clear that their goal was maximum publicity. David Craig a former AFP Detective Superintendent has some choice words and his explanation of why. Make up your own mind.
I will say one thing and one thing only, the prosecution is not heading down this track lightly, we veterans, ex-soldiers, and serving soldiers want the answer to what the outcome? will be, and we need it, otherwise we are all going to be tarred with the same brush. - It needs to be dealt with appropriately and lawfully.
I would prefer a Court Marshall, even though he is a civilian it still, can be done,( He can be Seconded back into the Armed Forces, because he is under the age of 55yo) as the alleged offences occurred during his military service, but his VC would be on the line then( and I am very sure they don't want to take that off him), and anyhow this is bigger then a Military Court, and involves the Geneva Convention as well, hence Civilian Court of the Land.
Now have you blokes got the complete picture, this has to be done properly, lawfully and without the Court of Public Opinion.
-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Wednesday 20th of May 2026 09:52:47 PM
If you blokes really want him to have a fighting chance, put your money where your mouth is and reach out to his legal team, that's how you properly help him, winging about it online wont help him at all. The only one's financially helping him now is his parents,( and they really are not that financial themselves) and he really does need financial help in this matter, so back him financially if you can.>
-- Edited by Bicyclecamper on Wednesday 20th of May 2026 11:07:45 PM