🧵 They went into a war zone to report what was going on to the outside world.
An invasion force had formed and what was to be a brutal occupying power wanted no news to get out …

Five Australian newsmen were murdered doing there job.

Within weeks a sixth was murdered …

Brian Raymond Peters, Gary James Cunningham, Malcolm Harvie Rennie, Gregory John Shackleton and Anthony John Stewart, collectively now known as “the Balibó Five” A sixth Australian journalist who was trying to locate them Roger East was also murdered by the Indonesians.

National Emergency - Darwin 74 - Political Will 🧵

Months after the Brisbane Floods in '74 that overwhelmed the State response Whitlam set up National Disasters Organisation - NDO (Foresight)
When Tracey hit Darwin on Christmas Eve 74 he appointed the NDO head ... #auspol 1- MAJGEN Stretton to lead the response. (Direction )

A civil response with ADF and others in support, Retired MAJGEN Stretton (in civvies) reported directly to the PM (Clear Chain of Command)

Stretton arrived in Darwin next day (Urgency) 2-

🧵 Never Assume

In 40 yrs in the ADF as a military officer, commander & strategic planner I had the duty of briefing a wide range of politicians across the political divide. Mostly those to the Govt of the day. And at the direction of the Govt:the Opposition

#auspol #qt 1/21 Those duties also included at times accompanying politicians (with a Service Chief) to overseas operations, writing briefs for #qt accompanying the Chief to Senate Estimates, preparing cabinet submissions and taking the calls of ‘staffers’

2/21

A thread ....

We knew it would be bad. It’s been a body blow that has literally floored some of us. Some have admitted themselves to care. Partners don’t know what to say to their loved ones. We are as family, close. It’s as if a family member has committed a murder.

1 of 14 Many will give opinions of how we got to here. Of how the process now plays out. How reforms will be made. And ask how and why. The experts and others will write articles and papers. Will the shame a nation feels fall at the feet of diggers alone? So many questions. 2