Liberal MP Tim Smith is demanding Bettina Arndt be stripped of the Order of Australia merit she was awarded in January | Tate_13 michaelkoziol
Liberal MP Tim Smith is demanding Bettina Arndt be stripped of the Order of Australia honour she was awarded in January, over comments that are "totally at odds with the values of the Australian people, the Crown and the Australian Government".
Following the murder of Queensland mum Hannah Clarke and her three children at the hands of her estranged husband Rowan Baxter, Ms Arndt spoke in support of comments made by a detective who has since been removed from the case.Queensland Police Service detective Mark Thompson drew widespread criticism after questioning whether the horrific murders were an act of domestic violence or of a "husband being driven too far." Ms Arndt, who is well known for her "not all men" commentary, praised the Queensland police for "keeping an open mind and awaiting proper evidence, including the possibility that Rowan Baxter might have been driven too far".She went on to say: "But note the misplaced outrage. How dare police deviate from the feminist script of seeking excuses... and explanations when women stab their partners to death, or drive their children into dams but immediately judging a man in these circumstances as simply representing the evil violence that is in all men,”Her comments were too much for Kew MP Tim Smith, who on Saturday penned a letter to chairman of the Order of Australia Shane Stone, requesting Ms Arndt's award be cancelled. "The Council of the Order of Australia has an important role protecting the Vice-Regal office and the Crown in Australia from associating itself with views that seek to make excuses for extreme violence," Mr Smith said. "In this instance, a multiple murder has been committed in the most heinous fashion, with three children under the age of ten and their mother having been incinerated in a vehicle on their way to school." He said the award should be cancelled on the grounds that her comments constitute behaving in a manner that has brought the Order into disrepute. "Over recent years the Order of Australia in the Military Division and many Gallantry Decorations have been awarded to countless brave Australian servicemen and women for their efforts in bringing peace to Afghanistan, Iraq and Northern Syria whilst fighting regimes that excuse and perpetuate horrendous violence, often against women.On Saturday afternoon, Ms Arndt defended her comments."I felt we should support a public official who obviously made a statement in the course of an inquiry. He was a man doing his job. I think we should support someone in his position rather than attacking him for ideological reasons." Earlier Mr Smith took to his Twitter account and told Ms Arndt she sounded like someone who had "lost the plot." "This is completely crackers. Your logic is perverse. A young family has been murdered by their father and ex-partner, a crime that is completely indefensible. Please shut up, you are sounding like someone who has completely lost the plot. "Upon further reflection I think these comments are so grotesque that this woman must not be awarded an AM, which was announced on Australia Day. I hate saying that, but she must not be recognised in any way as an outstanding Australian." Liberal senator for NSW Hollie Hughes also said Ms Arndt should "consider whether she's living up to the responsibility" of being an Order of Australia recipient. "These sorts of awards are an absolute privilege and honour and they're bestowed by an independent committee," Senator Hughes said. "But with those awards come responsibility, and this sort of reckless comment ... she might want to consider whether that's befitting of the award she's been honoured with." It is not the first time there have calls for Ms Arndt to be stripped of her medal. In January Victorian Attorney-General Jill Hennessy wrote to Governor-General David Hurley, urging him to cancel Ms Arndt’s award.
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