Tim James
Shadow Minister for Veterans
The Premier has today been forced into a grovelling apology to Australia’s Veterans after his “shocker” response to a question on whether he supports Victoria Barracks from Nationals MP and veteran of three tours of duty, Michael Kemp MP.
In Question Time today in the NSW Parliament, the Premier was asked by Mr Kemp whether he supported the Albanese Labor Government’s decision to sell-off Victoria Barracks, or whether he supported his Labor colleagues Greg Warren and Marjorie O’Neill in opposing the sell-off.
In response the Premier said:
Chris Minns: It is a matter for the Federal Government. To the extent that I have thought about it, I will leave it up to them. I am not proposing a major campaign.
…
Chris Minns: I do not own it. It is a bit like when my neighbour wanted to sell his boat. I was happy because it would clear up the street, but it did not really have much to do with me.
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Chris Minns: I am not trying to trivialise it. If it is a matter of deep passion and concern to the veterans community, I respect that. I suspect that the pride and honour they feel—and that Australians feel in them—is protected in their image, character and the values they possess, not necessarily in a physical landmark.
Robyn Preston: You don't get it.
…
Chris Minns: That may well be true. I am not a veteran. I cannot be held accountable or responsible for the decisions of the Commonwealth Government, and I am not prepared to launch a campaign against them. It is their call.
After significant backlash from the Veteran and wider community, the Premier admitted his error and called in to 2GB’s Drive Program with Clinton Maynard to issue an apology to the Veterans community:
Clinton Maynard: Do you regret those comments?
Chris Minns: Yeah, I've had a shocker there. I really regret it. Anything to do with the veterans community, it has to be done in a in a respectful way. And I didn't do that. I think the point I was trying to make is that the veterans and the respect that they're held in the community is more than a physical presence, but I just I did it in such an inarticulate way. It's not my feeling, and I would hate for anyone in our veterans community to be offended by it, or think that's what I really think about their dedication service to our country.
Clinton Maynard: I've had a mountain of text messages about this, Chris, and they're actually really angry with you.
Chris Minns: Well, I've had a shocker, and they've got every right to be, and I'm hoping that they give me a second go and recognise that it's a genuine apology.
Clinton Maynard: Well, I think they'll appreciate that is, and I have to ask this, because I've had a couple of other messages claiming, suggesting this is out of character for you. And I think it is, you know, we know each other reasonably well. I think it's out well. I think it's out of character. Is this because you've been so focused on what occurred at the start of the week with the protests that that you haven't been able to have the bandwidth to think about other issues?
Chris Minns: Look, I think I probably dropped the ball. I…you know, it's a funny thing in Question Time you get set on what you think the questions will be, and usually that's what's occupying your time. Fair play to the Opposition. It came out of left field. I wasn't ready for it, and I didn't put the care into a kind of answer. Now… you know…that's a that's an excuse, not a reason, but yeah, if I had another go at it, there's no way, there's no way, I would leave veterans with any with any doubt as to my reverence for their commitment to this country, and I can promise you, they're not empty words at all. We owe them so much, and I've had a lot to do with returning veterans on the Iraq and Afghanistan war. People have given everything, everything to the country. And you know, if I've added to some of the burden that they're feeling, then I feel pretty, pretty bad about that.
Shadow Minister for Veterans, Tim James, said that the gobsmacking answer in Question Time and stunning backdown was best described by the Premier himself.
“The Premier put it best - he has had a shocker,” Mr James said.
“Except it wasn’t just on this issue – he has had a shocker of a week, with his own team at war with itself over Monday night’s protest where four members of his own Labor team attended a protest that the Premier didn’t want them to attend, which has now devolved into the Police Minister and Labor MLC Anthony D’Adam openly criticizing each other in the NSW Parliament.”
“The Premier’s apology to Veterans is welcomed.”