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Mike Kelly resigns from army reserves over campaign use of photos in uniform Mike Kelly resigns from army reserves over campaign use of photos in uniform
(2 months later)
The Labor candidate for Eden Monaro, Mike Kelly, has resigned from the army reserves after he received an instruction to stop using photos of himself in uniform in campaign material.The Labor candidate for Eden Monaro, Mike Kelly, has resigned from the army reserves after he received an instruction to stop using photos of himself in uniform in campaign material.
Kelly told Guardian Australia it was “a really sad day, it ended nearly 30 years of attachment to the Australian army, an institution that I love dearly”.Kelly told Guardian Australia it was “a really sad day, it ended nearly 30 years of attachment to the Australian army, an institution that I love dearly”.
He was instructed on Thursday by the Australian Defence Force not to use photos of himself in uniform in campaign materials.He was instructed on Thursday by the Australian Defence Force not to use photos of himself in uniform in campaign materials.
Kelly said he had “worked hard not to compromise neutrality of defence” by not using the uniform in TV, corflute or billboard ads, and only using photos in uniform by himself in “low-key biographical materials”.Kelly said he had “worked hard not to compromise neutrality of defence” by not using the uniform in TV, corflute or billboard ads, and only using photos in uniform by himself in “low-key biographical materials”.
Related: Andrew Hastie defiant after sacking from army reserve for wearing uniform in ads
Kelly said he believed his use of materials was within the rules because he didn’t campaign in uniform and the rules only forbid using images of multiple defence force members, not the candidate alone.Kelly said he believed his use of materials was within the rules because he didn’t campaign in uniform and the rules only forbid using images of multiple defence force members, not the candidate alone.
But Kelly said he respected the chief of the army’s decision that that use was outside the rules. Kelly resigned and will continue to use material showing himself in uniform.But Kelly said he respected the chief of the army’s decision that that use was outside the rules. Kelly resigned and will continue to use material showing himself in uniform.
“My concern was that I spent $10,000 on material which in previous campaigns was material I had used without concerns. I was really concerned that lower-income earners had contributed to pay for it, and I couldn’t in good conscience allow it be wasted.”“My concern was that I spent $10,000 on material which in previous campaigns was material I had used without concerns. I was really concerned that lower-income earners had contributed to pay for it, and I couldn’t in good conscience allow it be wasted.”
It comes after the ADF terminated Liberal MP Andrew Hastie’s service in the reserves because he refused to stop materials showing himself in uniform.It comes after the ADF terminated Liberal MP Andrew Hastie’s service in the reserves because he refused to stop materials showing himself in uniform.
Related: Guardian Live election special event with Lenore Taylor and Katharine Murphy
Kelly said, “There’s a bipartisanship around defence, we’re all proud of our service and see it as a continuation of serving the country.”Kelly said, “There’s a bipartisanship around defence, we’re all proud of our service and see it as a continuation of serving the country.”
Labor’s candidate for Brisbane, Pat O’Neill, has decided to take down billboards depicting himself in army uniform.Labor’s candidate for Brisbane, Pat O’Neill, has decided to take down billboards depicting himself in army uniform.
O’Neill told Guardian Australia: “I put them up to talk about my background and history, it’s 18 years that I’ve worked full-time in the army, since I left school”.O’Neill told Guardian Australia: “I put them up to talk about my background and history, it’s 18 years that I’ve worked full-time in the army, since I left school”.
“But we want to focus on policy and issues; I didn’t leave a good job in the army to talk about billboards but rather things that make life better for Brisbane and across the country.”“But we want to focus on policy and issues; I didn’t leave a good job in the army to talk about billboards but rather things that make life better for Brisbane and across the country.”
Asked about the army’s decision to sack Hastie, O’Neill said, “I have known Hastie for about a decade, we worked together up in Darwin, and he’s got my support.”Asked about the army’s decision to sack Hastie, O’Neill said, “I have known Hastie for about a decade, we worked together up in Darwin, and he’s got my support.”
“He spent the majority of his life serving the country, so he’s got my support and I hope to see him in Canberra.”“He spent the majority of his life serving the country, so he’s got my support and I hope to see him in Canberra.”
“As we’re two former defence members he has my personal support – I think it’s sad what’s happened over the last 24 hours.”“As we’re two former defence members he has my personal support – I think it’s sad what’s happened over the last 24 hours.”
O’Neill defended the use of campaign materials showing the uniform.O’Neill defended the use of campaign materials showing the uniform.
“It’s important to know the background and experience of a candidate, and for them to be from a broad background and experience – that’s what Andrew [Hastie] and I can bring to the parliament.”“It’s important to know the background and experience of a candidate, and for them to be from a broad background and experience – that’s what Andrew [Hastie] and I can bring to the parliament.”