Defence Dept. must come clean on Fitzgibbon probe
The reported investigation into Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon by
intelligence officers from his own department was a matter of “grave
concern”, Federal Member for Tangney Dennis Jensen said Thursday.
“Any society which is vigilant in protecting civil liberties should always be concerned about the operations of intelligence services which are conducted against its own citizens,” he said.
“But it is a matter of especially grave concern in this case, when defence intelligence personnel have reportedly been directed to launch an operation against their own minister.
“And it is particularly troubling to hear that intelligence officers have accessed the confidential files of a politician, a person elected by their community to represent them in Federal Parliament.
“That is not to say that domestic intelligence operations should be blocked, or that politicians should be immune. But any assault on the liberty of an MP is an assault on the entire society they serve.”
Dr Jensen said defence officials, who earlier Thursday said they had ordered an investigation in response to press reports on the matter, must make public their findings.
“The Australian public demands answers,” he said.
“They deserve to know why such an operation took place, who ordered it, and what information was uncovered. We also need to why this matter became public, and who leaked it to the media.
“Of course, none of this applies to the bulk of our services personnel, who I hold in the highest regard for their professionalism and dedication.”
Dr Jensen said he was “not a great fan” of the minister, but that this made no difference to his feelings on the case.
“I do not believe the minister has done a particularly good job, but this is beside the point. I defend his right to fulfil his duties without obstruction,” he added.
“The minister and his department have been at odds in the past, and suggestions the intelligence operation was a response to these disagreements – or even to exact some sort of revenge on the minister – are extremely disturbing.
“Australia is not a society where the military can dictate orders to democratically elected representatives – and the vast majority of Australians do not want it to become one.”
“Any society which is vigilant in protecting civil liberties should always be concerned about the operations of intelligence services which are conducted against its own citizens,” he said.
“But it is a matter of especially grave concern in this case, when defence intelligence personnel have reportedly been directed to launch an operation against their own minister.
“And it is particularly troubling to hear that intelligence officers have accessed the confidential files of a politician, a person elected by their community to represent them in Federal Parliament.
“That is not to say that domestic intelligence operations should be blocked, or that politicians should be immune. But any assault on the liberty of an MP is an assault on the entire society they serve.”
Dr Jensen said defence officials, who earlier Thursday said they had ordered an investigation in response to press reports on the matter, must make public their findings.
“The Australian public demands answers,” he said.
“They deserve to know why such an operation took place, who ordered it, and what information was uncovered. We also need to why this matter became public, and who leaked it to the media.
“Of course, none of this applies to the bulk of our services personnel, who I hold in the highest regard for their professionalism and dedication.”
Dr Jensen said he was “not a great fan” of the minister, but that this made no difference to his feelings on the case.
“I do not believe the minister has done a particularly good job, but this is beside the point. I defend his right to fulfil his duties without obstruction,” he added.
“The minister and his department have been at odds in the past, and suggestions the intelligence operation was a response to these disagreements – or even to exact some sort of revenge on the minister – are extremely disturbing.
“Australia is not a society where the military can dictate orders to democratically elected representatives – and the vast majority of Australians do not want it to become one.”
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