Commentators Clash Over Ben Roberts-Smith Campaign
Public division emerges among media figures regarding the merchandise store and legal case of Ben Roberts-Smith.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Military
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Should the public support individuals who are currently facing serious criminal charges in court?
Conservative commentators in Australia are increasingly divided over a campaign supporting Ben Roberts-Smith following his 2025 arrest. The former soldier faces five war crimes charges linked to his deployments in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
Why it matters
The public disagreement reflects deeper tensions regarding the appropriate legal standards and due process applied to veterans accused of war crimes. Media figures have used various platforms to voice conflicting opinions on the ongoing legal proceedings.
Government agencies have spent $300 million on war crimes investigations related to historical deployments. Meanwhile, Ben Roberts-Smith launched an online merchandise store called EPIC 1 TWO, which currently offers a 10% discount to military personnel.
The players
Ben Roberts-Smith
He is a former soldier who faces five war crimes charges and has launched an online merchandise store branded EPIC 1 TWO.
Andrew Bolt
He is a media commentator who publicly refused to support a campaign for Ben Roberts-Smith or to attack Andrew Hastie.
Peta Credlin
She is a media commentator who has used her platform to promote the EPIC 1 TWO merchandise line on social media.
Andrew Hastie
He is an individual who media figures were requested to attack as part of a campaign supporting Ben Roberts-Smith.
The details
Andrew Bolt publicly refused a request to support the campaign for Ben Roberts-Smith, which included a push for him to attack Andrew Hastie. Conversely, Peta Credlin has promoted the EPIC 1 TWO merchandise on social media platforms.
Timeline
The alleged war crimes occurred between 2009 and 2012.
Ben Roberts-Smith was arrested in 2025.
Peta Credlin broadcast commentary regarding the war crimes on 22 October 2026.
Andrew Bolt publicly criticised the campaign during the week of 27 October 2026.
Political Context
The current public debate among media commentators follows the pattern set by the Australian government's $300 million war crimes investigation into military conduct in Afghanistan. These internal disagreements highlight the opposition's concerns regarding due process and the treatment of veterans within the legal system.
The ongoing war crimes investigation impacts taxpayers directly through the $300 million in government funding allocated to the process. Citizens should monitor these developments as they may influence future military policy and national standards for conduct.
The takeaway
Public discourse remains polarized as media figures weigh in on the implications of the high-profile war crimes case. Observers should look to official legal filings rather than social media merchandise campaigns to understand the merits of the charges.
Further reading
Read more on the Military section of our site regarding ongoing national security and defence issues.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mail Online.
Live Poll
Should the public support individuals who are currently facing serious criminal charges in court?
