"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" - Evelyn Beatrice Hall, (1868 – 1956)

In the SMH today,
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/dont-mention-the-war-army-cant-kill-off-troublesome-officer-bernard-gaynor-20151209-glji6j.html

"For much of this year, in the Federal Court of Australia, the extensive resources of the ADF have been pitted against the threadbare resources of a single, sacked Army Reserve officer who the ADF is determined to ostracise, humiliate and terminate.

The ADF has been highly successful in ostracising him, not surprising given the military's long and inglorious record of tolerating hazing, bullying and bastardisation.

But as for terminating this officer, he has proved hard to kill.
..
Justice Buchanan found that being sacked for holding personal political views, even in defiance of orders, was too fundamental a right to be quashed in the name of military discipline".

OTB,

It may be but a partial victory, the military has a long memory and can carry grudges like battle honours; I wouldn't bet on him ever getting a Colonelcy.

' In the time our Army has been in Afghanistan the number of Muslims in Australia has increased from around 280,000 to 476,000. Anyone who thinks Australia is safer as a result is deluded … While our soldiers have been fighting, taking casualties and dying in Afghanistan to protect Australia's interests and values from violent Islamists our own government has allowed them to take root inside our borders."

sacked for telling the truth. The left are totally intolerant and love lies.

//sacked for telling the truth. The left are totally intolerant and love lies.//

And just how many lefties do you think there are amongst the Army's high-ranking brass, runner? My guess would be none. In the media they all come across as pretty conservative; the one brigadier that I have known personally was a lovely gentleman, but still conservative.

Gaynor is a brain-dead clown who gives our noble diggers a bad image. If they can't fire him - which they should be able to, because what is the value of a soldier who won't follow orders? - they should bust him back down to private and set him to digging latrines for the rest of his military career - a fitting end for any soldier who drags the good name of the Army through the mud like Gaynor does. At the very least he should prohibited from ever including his rank when making political statements, to avoid further damage to the good reputation of the Army.

Obligations to an employer aren't the same thing as the legal rights that apply to all citizens. You have a right to be late for work, but don't expect you to keep your job. Similarly, Gaynor had, has and hopefully always will have the right to spout whatever nonsense he likes - but if his employers forbid him from doing so (particularly whilst identifying himself as an employee) then he shouldn't expect to keep his job either. Basically, he's like the guy who shows up late every day but still expects continued employment. Unfortunately, the courts seem to agree with him. The law is an ass.

And if I was his bishop, I'd have him excommunicated in an effort to distance myself from his ludicrous claims that his absurd views are somehow representative of Catholic teaching - they so aren't.

Does anyone think that Australia is a safer place because of Muslim immigration?

Apart from a few clowns in Government or those on the gravy train.

"Does anyone think that Australia is a safer place because of Muslim immigration?"

No

"Apart from the Left who wanted to rub everyone's nose in diversity, Labor and Greens politicians who want to win marginal seats and those on the gravy train"

There, fixed that for you.

Oz's leftist 'Progressives slavishly followed UK's lead,

"Labour wanted mass immigration to make UK more multicultural, says former adviser

Labour threw open Britain's borders to mass immigration to help socially engineer a "truly multicultural" country, a former Government adviser has revealed."

The huge increases in migrants over the last decade were partly due to a politically motivated attempt by ministers to radically change the country and "rub the Right's nose in diversity", according to Andrew Neather, a former adviser to Tony Blair, Jack Straw and David Blunkett.

He said Labour's relaxation of controls was a deliberate plan to "open up the UK to mass migration" but that ministers were nervous and reluctant to discuss such a move publicly for fear it would alienate its "core working class vote".

As a result, the public argument for immigration concentrated instead on the economic benefits and need for more migrants.

Critics said the revelations showed a "conspiracy" within Government to impose mass immigration for "cynical" political reasons.>
http://tinyurl.com/2uzb8gj

and,

http://tinyurl.com/zuzcsgb

Freedom of speech won this time, heading sounds like out of many words that could have been stated, this one event is of many events has come to light.

I would state that media control almost all words heard over electronic media. Average Joes are rarely asked their opinions. Media interviews of tragic events may interview several eye witnesses at a location. People heard, often say the dumbest shallow minded statements.

Many topics mentioned in the media rarely influence long term outcomes. Audiences hear concerns yet very little change results.

Free speech is an illusion coming from ideas that politicians are exposed for dumb behaviours. Corruption inquires come and go with few people if any are going to jail. Bill Shorten is found to have done things wrong, eventually is found free of any blame.

People have short memories, while having quick judgmental beliefs.

One off quickly analysed readings, judged based on past want ot be beliefs, without considering several alterative reasons for anecdotal stories, leads continued beliefs in ideas that maybe false

Toni,

"....his ludicrous claims that his absurd views are somehow representative of Catholic teaching - they so aren't."

Why aren't they?

It's not really about freedom , is it? There are other matters involved which is why a soldier can be ordered to shoot and not go to prison. Our new boy , Charles III wants to write royal letters to MPs but his "freedom" there is some-thing to do with another Charles and parliament. Soldiers are public servants like the bloke on the council rubbish truck.
"Three key APS Values, set out in section 10 of the Public Service Act, underpin this relationship:
•s. 10(a): the Australian Public Service is apolitical, performing its functions in an impartial and professional manner

The APS Values mean that public servants should not become involved in any official capacity with promoting or commenting on a Government policy. Similarly, public servants should not in any official capacity criticise or comment on the policies of the Opposition or other political organisations18. Agency resources are not to be used to support political campaigns."
Using a military rank with a comment is way bad.

"....which is why a soldier can be ordered to shoot and not go to prison."

Could you clarify that remark a bit?
I seem to remember soldiers being executed because they followed orders to shoot.

Jah , ven zey breaken die Public Serviceisch Achtung , ziese bin schuttenisten.

@nicknamenick, Thursday, 17 December 2015 3:43:31 PM

Are you saying you have a superior legal expertise to the learned Justice Buchanan?

Are you even aware of the differing conditions for the Reserve? Or if the man concerned might not have been on duty when he expressed the subject opinion/s?

Freedom of speech only applies to those agreeing with onthebeach?
" The applicant served in Iraq in 2006-7, 2008-9 and 2009 and also briefly in Afghanistan in 2006".
My learned colleague advises me that Gaynor's rank was used in his comments. The judgement about breach of Public Service is arguable, not set in judicial concrete.

3n,

The humour is appreciated but could you answer the question?

"soldiers can be ordered to shoot".
You are putting your perception into my words. "Soldier can be ordered" does not mean "all soldiers under all orders". Millions of people move in cities without self-exploding. The odd person does.
Many wars are fought without gas-ovens and death camps. The odd one is. Breaker Morant is famous today because his situation was so odd.
Like Ned Kelly. Whitlam in 1975 . Richard "Watergate " Nixon. Planes which parked illegally in New York 9/11.
Military orders are unique where the public servant soldier has to say "Yes Sir " and be violent against normal laws. The principle is true regardless of perversions of the rule.

If I am putting my perception into your words then my perception is based on what the words mean, so could you clarify just what your perception of your words is?