Bill snubs soldiers for Dubai mall visit
LABOR leader Bill Shorten has found himself in an Anzac Day controversy after missing a dinner with Diggers in Afghanistan and visiting a shopping mall.
The Bulletin has learned that, after visiting troops in Kabul and Qargha, Mr Shorten was given an option to dine with troops but said he and his party, including Senate President Scott Ryan, wanted to go to Dubai.
The ADF arranged to take him and some of his travelling party to one of Dubai’s famous opulent shopping mega malls.
Some personnel were disappointed with the decision.
“There were a few noses out of joint and a few people disappointed. He literally came here then wanted to go to Dubai. Maybe he was tired,” said one.
Plans for tables to be set in a corner of the ADF Middle East HQ mess room for the dinner and the room set up for his briefing, were scotched.
The dinner was to be hosted by Rear Admiral Jaimie Hatcher who had been posted to head Joint Task Group 633 to command all Australian forces in the Middle East region, including Afghanistan.
Mr Shorten’s office denied the sequence of events, saying there was confusion about dinner and the group thought it best to not burden troops. A spokesman said at no point did Mr Shorten or Senator Ryan accept an invitation to dine.
“Mr Shorten has personally confirmed with Vice Admiral Johnston that neither he nor Senator Ryan were provided with advice that any troops were expecting to have dinner with them,” he said.