In defence of Linda Reynolds

Defence minister Linda Reynolds is a decent person. She is honourable and compassionate, as well as someone whose talents and leadership enabled her to rise to be a brigadier in the Army Reserve. I have known her for almost 30 years, and am proud to call her a friend.

But the personal pile-on she has experienced since the story broke about the alleged sexual assault that took place in her office two years ago, in which a member of her staff was the now complainant and another the alleged perpetrator, is a disgrace.

As Reynolds herself has admitted, with the benefit of hindsight she would have done things differently. It is clear this matter has gnawed at her conscience. In responding to her accusers in the Senate, nothing she…