The shadow attorney-general, Michaelia Cash, defends a decision that allows one of her staff to write an article praising former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith. Multiple outlets report that Brett McCarthy, a former West Australian editor and an adviser to Cash, is the person who praised Roberts-Smith in the article. The reporting highlights that Roberts-Smith is facing legal proceedings related to alleged war crimes. He has been arrested and is reported to be charged with five counts of the war crime of murder.
Across the sources, the central issue is the use of staff input and editorial latitude within Cash’s office in connection with a public-facing piece that takes a positive view of Roberts-Smith. While the articles describe Roberts-Smith’s legal situation and identify McCarthy’s role and background, they do not add a detailed account of the specific arguments Cash uses in her defence. The coverage focuses on the apparent contradiction between praising Roberts-Smith and the ongoing criminal charges, along with Cash’s decision to permit the publication.
