In the Australian newspaper (12/4) our top brass, Defense Force Chief Angus Houston, looked haggard and drawn while a man half his calibre; federal politican Stephen Smith portrayed as looking strong and forceful. The issue is now called the ‘skype sex scandal’.
The white male heterosexual, the dominant paradigm is now challenged, as Emily’s List member Julia Gillard makes a feminist call for women to be able to go into the front line.
So more finger pointing after Mr Smith demanded the removal of Commodore Kafer. The military chiefs rightly refused his demands.
There has been no condem-nation of the female cadet involved in the sex romp, we have seen a victimology even some gender ‘envy’ as Mr Smith’s intrusion escalated into unreasonable proportions, as he brought out the big guns.
The matter is dangerous. It is unconstitutional – because there is a separation of powers – the Queen, under our Australian Constitution is the Chief of the Armed Forces, not the Defense Minister or the Prime Minister. The Queen’s representative, the Governor General, assumes the role on behalf of the Queen. The Defense Minister should be sacked for what he has done – undoubtedly there wil be a vote of no confidence in him when parliament resumes.
The whole sorry mess has resulted in the big gender issues coming to the fore; undoubtedly the Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick will be plugging for more equity in the dangerous military jobs, and quite possibly a female promoted into a top-brass position.
Warren James
