Conservative civil war at News24 over Ben Roberts-Smith: INSIDE MAIL reveals the behind-the-scenes battle lines after Andrew Bolt’s extraordinary split from Peta Credlin
Andrew Bolt has broken with some conservative colleagues by criticising efforts to build public support for former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith. The dispute highlights a divide at News24 over whether Roberts-Smith’s supporters should campaign on his behalf while serious criminal allegations remain before the courts.
Bolt said a lobbying firm had sought to arrange a meeting with Roberts-Smith and that an intermediary wanted him to attack Liberal MP Andrew Hastie, who gave evidence against Roberts-Smith in a defamation case. Roberts-Smith lost that case and was arrested last year, then charged with five war crimes offences relating to deployments from 2009 to 2012; he denies the allegations and is on bail. News24 host Peta Credlin has publicly defended him, while Bolt says the allegations should be settled in court.
In short
- Andrew Bolt criticised a campaign backing Ben Roberts-Smith.
- Roberts-Smith denies five war crimes charges and is on bail.
- The dispute has exposed divisions among conservative commentators.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters may argue that Roberts-Smith is entitled to public support while he denies the charges, and that advocacy can challenge what they see as unfair treatment or damaging public perceptions before a criminal trial. They may also regard scrutiny of the evidence given by political figures as legitimate, provided it does not obstruct the legal process.
The case against
Critics may argue that a public campaign risks putting pressure on witnesses or shaping opinion while serious criminal charges are before the courts. They may see Bolt’s call to let the case be decided in court as a way to protect the independence of the proceedings and avoid turning allegations into a political loyalty test.
Explained simply
Ben Roberts-Smith is a former Australian special forces soldier who received the country’s highest military award. He lost a defamation case over reports about alleged killings of Afghan civilians, and now faces five war crimes charges linked to deployments between 2009 and 2012. He denies the charges and is on bail while the case proceeds.
The disagreement centres on whether people should campaign publicly for Roberts-Smith while the criminal allegations are before the courts. News24 commentators Andrew Bolt and Peta Credlin have taken different positions; Liberal MP Andrew Hastie gave evidence in the defamation case. The dispute matters because it raises questions about public advocacy and how media figures discuss allegations that have not been decided at trial.