Australia’s top general slams Scott Morrison’s bushfire video

Australia’s top general slams Scott Morrison’s ‘propaganda’ video that used soldiers to ‘advertise’ government efforts to fight bushfires

• In January Prime Minister released a video on social media on bushfire response 
• It featured slow motion shots of soldiers helping with the recovery effort
• The was video was widely slammed as an ‘advert’ by critics at the time
• Today the chief of the ADF said he was also unhappy about the video 

By Charlie Moore For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 05:51 GMT, 4 March 2020 | Updated: 06:01 GMT, 4 March 2020

The Chief of the Australian Defence Force has said he was ‘discomforted’ by Scott Morrison’s ‘propaganda’ video about the response to the bushfire crisis. 

In early January the Prime Minister released a video on social media spruiking the government’s efforts to fight blazes, featuring slow motion shots of soldiers, firefighters and aircraft helping with the recovery effort.

The video was slammed by critics who described it as propaganda and a political advert – and today Australia’s top general, Angus Campbell, revealed he was also unhappy about the video.

General Campbell (pictured) revealed he spoke to the Prime Minister personally about the video

‘Whenever the ADF or any other apolitical body finds itself between political parties, I am discomforted,’ he said in a Senate estimates hearing.

General Campbell also revealed he spoke to the Prime Minister personally about the video to make his misgivings clear.

Labor frontbencher Richard Marles raised the issue in Question Time today but the Prime Minister denied the post was a political advert.

‘Mr Speaker, the Liberal Party did not post an advertisement, Mr Speaker, at all,’ Mr Morrison said, insisting it was simply a video providing information.

Mr Marles asked the Prime Minister to confirm that the general spoke to him directly about the video – but Mr Morrison refused to reveal what had been said. 

Scott Morrison (pictured in Hawaii) was slammed after taking a trip to Hawaii while Australia was in the midst of its worst ever bushfire season

‘I talk to the Chief of the defence force very regularly, Mr Speaker, and when I have private discussions with the Chief of the defence force, I respect those private discussions,’ he said.

The Prime Minister also insisted that no rules were broken. ‘This was important information communicated to the Australian people. 

‘I observed, Mr Speaker, the requirements of the Australian electoral act that any such videos need a proper authorisation, and that authorisation was provided,’ he said.

The Liberal Party released the video on social media on January 5 amid public anger about Mr Morrison’s secret holiday to Hawaii while the bushfire crisis escalated. 

Along with the video Mr Morrison wrote: ‘We’re putting more Defence Force boots on the ground, more planes in the sky, more ships to sea, and more trucks to roll in to support the bushfire fighting effort and recovery as part of our co-ordinated response to these terrible #bushfires’

Mr Morrison found himself in hot water almost immediately, with many saying the money spent should have gone towards the bushfire appeal.

Broadcaster Piers Morgan said Mr Morrison was ‘shameless and shameful’.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd said he was acting like a ‘marketing guy’.

 

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