A war hero has slammed the Albanian government for failing to stand up for veterans after his platoon was accused of war crimes.
Retired special forces commando Heston Russell appeared on Ben Fordham. 2 GB radio program on Friday to discuss his defamation lawsuit against ABC that ended in 2023.
Between October 2020 and November 2021, investigative journalists Mark Willacy and Josh Robertson published two online articles and a television report accusing Russell’s November Squad of executing a bound prisoner in Afghanistan in 2012.
Russell successfully sued the station in late 2021 and was awarded $390,000 in damages, but despite this, he claims that no one from the government defended him or his men against the allegations.
During his interview with Fordham, the veteran singled out Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defense Personnel Minister Matt Keogh for their lack of support.
Retired special forces commando Heston Russell appeared on Ben Fordham’s 2GB radio show on Friday to discuss his defamation case against the ABC.
During Mr Russell’s years-long battle against the ABC, he said no one from the government came forward to offer support when he was wrongly accused.
Russell told Fordham he had been “absolutely disappointed” by the response Keogh gave during their recent meeting in Canberra.
‘My initial comment was: ‘Why haven’t we received any comments from your government?’ To which he told me, “It’s not government policy to comment on what the media does,” Russell said.
“So I said, ‘I and my entire platoon had been through hell at the hands of the ABC.’… To which I got a response that said, ‘I’m a lawyer and I must always do what is appropriate according to the law.’ .’
Mr Fordham asked if anyone from Parliament had contacted Mr Russell privately to express their support.
Russell responded that he had not heard from anyone in authority on the matter in the three years since the article was published and the subsequent lawsuit.
“Not even asking for a welfare check,” Mr. Russell said.
When asked how the meeting between him and Keogh had come about, the veteran said it was because his supporters sent thousands of letters to Albanese and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles demanding an explanation.
During the meeting, Mr Keogh said it was imperative that the government did not interfere with the ABC, a public broadcaster which he said must remain independent.
Russell responded by saying that at a time when the Australian military is struggling to meet recruitment and retention quotas, it was important to show the country that the Department of Defense cared about its veterans and would support them.
Russell said he had been “absolutely disappointed” by the response provided by Defense Personnel Minister Matt Keogh (pictured) during their recent meeting in Canberra.
ABC had Russell’s November squad to execute a bound prisoner in Afghanistan in 2012, but Federal Court Judge Michael Lee found the public broadcaster failed to prove its reporting was in the public interest in October 2023.
Fordham also announced during the interview that it would host a fundraising gala for Mr. Russell’s second annual Veterans Games on April 20.
Fordham said he was able to get NRL boss Peter V’landys on board to auction off the opportunity to attend the Anzac Day rugby match with him.
The prize winner will sit alongside Mr V’landys in a VIP booth to watch the clash on April 25.
Russell will also attend the dinner and give a keynote address on veterans’ retransition into normal society after service.
All money raised at the event will go towards the games and transportation for the veterans who will attend.
Russell also spoke about the second annual Veterans Games he is hosting on the Gold Coast which will take place in August.
This year’s games will again be held on the Gold Coast and its events are based on exercises performed by veterans during their military careers, including obstacle courses, casual evacuations and tug of war.
Competitors must form teams of eight to compete, which are then judged based on their time, teamwork and communication skills.
These 2024 Veterans Games will take place on August 17 and 18.
WhatsNew2Day Australia has contacted the offices of Anthony Albanese and Matt Keogh for comment.