Public Service Commissioner cleared after lid lifted on secret investigations
Two separate complaints were made to the Merit Protection Commissioner regarding Dr de Brouwer's oversight of APS Code of Conduct investigations into 16 current and former public servants involved in the robodebt scheme.
Dr de Brouwer oversaw the year-long investigation into public servants after the release of the robodebt royal commission report.
He ultimately decided to release a public statement naming former secretaries Renee Leon and Kathryn Campbell for breaching their codes of conduct.
Ms Leon has expressed her disappointment with the findings while Ms Campbell told The Australian she felt scapegoated.
Dr de Brouwer's public statement, released in September 2024, also revealed a further 10 public servants breached their codes of conduct, but did not name them.
Merit Protection Commissioner Jamie Lowe, who also led the robodebt code of conduct investigations in a previous role, delegated complaints against Dr de Brouwer to two independent experts who conducted their probes between October 2024 and April 2025.
The code of conduct investigations were kept secret until Dr de Brouwer opted to release a statement on Thursday afternoon, revealing none of the allegations had been substantiated and that he had not breached the APS Code of Conduct.
"The independent investigations have affirmed my conduct as APS Commissioner in overseeing the robodebt Inquiry ... They have confirmed the propriety of the APSC's robodebt inquiry and its findings," his statement reads.
The two investigations were led by John McMillan, a former ombudsman, acting integrity commissioner and information commissioner, and Greg Wilson, a former secretary and acting public service commissioner in the Victorian Public Service.
Across both investigations, allegations included:
None of these were substantiated.
Dr de Brouwer said he opted to release the statement after freedom-of-information documents were released earlier this week, in which he was reasonably identifiable.
"It is essential that integrity officers, including myself as Australian Public Service Commissioner, are not exempt from the processes that other public servants are subject to," Dr de Brouwer said in his statement.
"The process that I underwent - as it was for those people who were investigated for breaches of the code in the robodebt inquiry - was forensic, thorough, independent and procedurally fair."
Do you know more? Contact miriam.webber@canberratimes.com.au
Gordon de Brouwer has revealed he faced two investigations into his conduct throughout the Public Service Commission's response to robodebt, but has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Two separate complaints were made to the Merit Protection Commissioner regarding Dr de Brouwer's oversight of APS Code of Conduct investigations into 16 current and former public servants involved in the robodebt scheme.
Dr de Brouwer oversaw the year-long investigation into public servants after the release of the robodebt royal commission report.
He ultimately decided to release a public statement naming former secretaries Renee Leon and Kathryn Campbell for breaching their codes of conduct.
Ms Leon has expressed her disappointment with the findings while Ms Campbell told The Australian she felt scapegoated.
Dr de Brouwer's public statement, released in September 2024, also revealed a further 10 public servants breached their codes of conduct, but did not name them.
Merit Protection Commissioner Jamie Lowe, who also led the robodebt code of conduct investigations in a previous role, delegated complaints against Dr de Brouwer to two independent experts who conducted their probes between October 2024 and April 2025.
The code of conduct investigations were kept secret until Dr de Brouwer opted to release a statement on Thursday afternoon, revealing none of the allegations had been substantiated and that he had not breached the APS Code of Conduct.
"The independent investigations have affirmed my conduct as APS Commissioner in overseeing the robodebt Inquiry ... They have confirmed the propriety of the APSC's robodebt inquiry and its findings," his statement reads.
The two investigations were led by John McMillan, a former ombudsman, acting integrity commissioner and information commissioner, and Greg Wilson, a former secretary and acting public service commissioner in the Victorian Public Service.
Across both investigations, allegations included:
None of these were substantiated.
Dr de Brouwer said he opted to release the statement after freedom-of-information documents were released earlier this week, in which he was reasonably identifiable.
"It is essential that integrity officers, including myself as Australian Public Service Commissioner, are not exempt from the processes that other public servants are subject to," Dr de Brouwer said in his statement.
"The process that I underwent - as it was for those people who were investigated for breaches of the code in the robodebt inquiry - was forensic, thorough, independent and procedurally fair."
Do you know more? Contact miriam.webber@canberratimes.com.au
Gordon de Brouwer has revealed he faced two investigations into his conduct throughout the Public Service Commission's response to robodebt, but has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Two separate complaints were made to the Merit Protection Commissioner regarding Dr de Brouwer's oversight of APS Code of Conduct investigations into 16 current and former public servants involved in the robodebt scheme.
Dr de Brouwer oversaw the year-long investigation into public servants after the release of the robodebt royal commission report.
He ultimately decided to release a public statement naming former secretaries Renee Leon and Kathryn Campbell for breaching their codes of conduct.
Ms Leon has expressed her disappointment with the findings while Ms Campbell told The Australian she felt scapegoated.
Dr de Brouwer's public statement, released in September 2024, also revealed a further 10 public servants breached their codes of conduct, but did not name them.
Merit Protection Commissioner Jamie Lowe, who also led the robodebt code of conduct investigations in a previous role, delegated complaints against Dr de Brouwer to two independent experts who conducted their probes between October 2024 and April 2025.
The code of conduct investigations were kept secret until Dr de Brouwer opted to release a statement on Thursday afternoon, revealing none of the allegations had been substantiated and that he had not breached the APS Code of Conduct.
"The independent investigations have affirmed my conduct as APS Commissioner in overseeing the robodebt Inquiry ... They have confirmed the propriety of the APSC's robodebt inquiry and its findings," his statement reads.
The two investigations were led by John McMillan, a former ombudsman, acting integrity commissioner and information commissioner, and Greg Wilson, a former secretary and acting public service commissioner in the Victorian Public Service.
Across both investigations, allegations included:
None of these were substantiated.
Dr de Brouwer said he opted to release the statement after freedom-of-information documents were released earlier this week, in which he was reasonably identifiable.
"It is essential that integrity officers, including myself as Australian Public Service Commissioner, are not exempt from the processes that other public servants are subject to," Dr de Brouwer said in his statement.
"The process that I underwent - as it was for those people who were investigated for breaches of the code in the robodebt inquiry - was forensic, thorough, independent and procedurally fair."
Do you know more? Contact miriam.webber@canberratimes.com.au
Gordon de Brouwer has revealed he faced two investigations into his conduct throughout the Public Service Commission's response to robodebt, but has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Two separate complaints were made to the Merit Protection Commissioner regarding Dr de Brouwer's oversight of APS Code of Conduct investigations into 16 current and former public servants involved in the robodebt scheme.
Dr de Brouwer oversaw the year-long investigation into public servants after the release of the robodebt royal commission report.
He ultimately decided to release a public statement naming former secretaries Renee Leon and Kathryn Campbell for breaching their codes of conduct.
Ms Leon has expressed her disappointment with the findings while Ms Campbell told The Australian she felt scapegoated.
Dr de Brouwer's public statement, released in September 2024, also revealed a further 10 public servants breached their codes of conduct, but did not name them.
Merit Protection Commissioner Jamie Lowe, who also led the robodebt code of conduct investigations in a previous role, delegated complaints against Dr de Brouwer to two independent experts who conducted their probes between October 2024 and April 2025.
The code of conduct investigations were kept secret until Dr de Brouwer opted to release a statement on Thursday afternoon, revealing none of the allegations had been substantiated and that he had not breached the APS Code of Conduct.
"The independent investigations have affirmed my conduct as APS Commissioner in overseeing the robodebt Inquiry ... They have confirmed the propriety of the APSC's robodebt inquiry and its findings," his statement reads.
The two investigations were led by John McMillan, a former ombudsman, acting integrity commissioner and information commissioner, and Greg Wilson, a former secretary and acting public service commissioner in the Victorian Public Service.
Across both investigations, allegations included:
None of these were substantiated.
Dr de Brouwer said he opted to release the statement after freedom-of-information documents were released earlier this week, in which he was reasonably identifiable.
"It is essential that integrity officers, including myself as Australian Public Service Commissioner, are not exempt from the processes that other public servants are subject to," Dr de Brouwer said in his statement.
"The process that I underwent - as it was for those people who were investigated for breaches of the code in the robodebt inquiry - was forensic, thorough, independent and procedurally fair."
Do you know more? Contact miriam.webber@canberratimes.com.au
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
30 minutes ago
- Sky News AU
Aussie activists ‘psychologically brutalised' by Israeli soldiers
A pair of Aussie activists have touched down in Sydney after they spent several weeks in Israeli Defence Forces custody after a failed mission to supply food and aid to the starving people of Gaza. Journalist and filmmaker Tan Safi and activist Robert Martin were part of a 21-strong crew that set sail aboard the 'Handala' as part of a humanitarian mission. Since Israel began military operations in Gaza in October 2023, 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in a campaign that prominent Israeli humanitarian organisations labelled as 'genocide' on Monday. While speaking to the media at Sydney Airport on Friday morning, the pair said they were 'psychologically brutalised' by their captors. 'We were in international waters at the time, and we were taken completely against our will and just brutalised psychologically in every way,' Safi said. 'We were on a hunger and water strike, but the only time they offered food was once and it was a tomato about (the size of a golf ball),' she said. In a video published on Sunday, Safi said she had been 'abducted' by the Israeli military, and urged supporters to 'put pressure on the Australian government to sanction Israel'. The Freedom Flotilla departed from Syracuse, Italy, on July 13, fully equipped with humanitarian supplies, en route to Gaza. Free Gaza Australia, the Australian branch of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) that organised the expedition, said the cargo of the Handala 'carried desperately needed lifesaving humanitarian cargo, including baby formula, food, and medical supplies, to the Palestinian people in Gaza'. At about midnight on July 26, the Handala was intercepted by the Israeli military about 80km miles off the coast of Gaza – an area that is considered to be international waters. Footage shows the moment Israeli troops boarded the flotilla, brandishing assault weapons and pointing them in the direction of flotilla activists who sat in the middle of their ship with hands outstretched. The crew had agreed before their arrest they would engage in a hunger strike in solidarity with Palestinians. Every crew member has now been deported to their country of residence or are in the process of repatriation. In a social media post on Friday morning, Free Gaza Australia said plans were already under way for another expedition to Palestine. 'Robert and Tan are home and we're already preparing the next Freedom Flotilla boat to break the siege of Gaza. We sail until Palestine is free,' it said. Allegations have also surfaced of other Freedom Flotilla crew members being abused by IDF soldiers. The FFC said US crew member Chris Smalls was beaten, kicked and choked by at least seven IDF soldiers as he and the other crew members were being detained in the only physical display of brutality catalogued by members of the Flotilla. Among the activists was Greta Thunberg, who has since been sent back to Sweden by Israeli authorities. Originally published as Aussie activists 'psychologically brutalised' by Israeli soldiers
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Pro-Palestine supporters ready to defy bridge march ban
Protesters and politicians pledge to defy any court order banning a pro-Palestine march from an Australian landmark, with a state MP labelling it "inevitable". Aimed at shining a spotlight on starvation among the people of Gaza as a result of Israel's offensive in the enclave, the rally at the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday has been hyped by organisers as a "March for Humanity". Similar demonstrations are planned in Melbourne and Adelaide, and an online petition to allow the Sydney march has attracted more than 15,000 signatures. But NSW Police walked into the Supreme Court on Friday afternoon to request the rally be deemed unauthorised, allowing officers to arrest people for blocking road traffic. A decision is expected later in the day. Organisers Palestine Action Group Sydney vow to rally regardless of the judge's decision, with spokesman Josh Lees saying the groundswell of support was unstoppable. "Whether or not Palestine Action Group has anything to do with it, there are going to be tens of thousands of people gathered, determined to march for humanity over our Sydney Harbour Bridge to stop a genocide," he said outside court. Five NSW Labor MPs are among a 15-strong group of politicians planning to join the march. They have urged the government to facilitate a safe and orderly event on Sunday or "some other agreed date". Outspoken upper house government MP Stephen Lawrence went a step further, predicting Premier Chris Minns' perceived interference in police negotiations with protesters would hamper the court's ability to thwart the bridge plans. "The circumstances of this protest are not ideal, but the event is now absolutely inevitable, largely because of the way it has been mishandled," he said. Mr Minns softened his largely anti-protest stance on Friday and said he hoped organisers would work with the police to find an alternative route. "There are thousands of people that want to be part of the protest, it's not deniable, and many people have been struck by images that have come out of Gaza," he said. The premier had earlier suggested the Harbour Bridge protest would bring "chaos" to Sydney. Mr Lawrence and fellow MP Sarah Kaine said the premier's position ran counter to Labor Party values. NSW has a permit system that allows protesters to block public roads and infrastructure, but a court can revoke those immunities if police challenge the permit. Lawyers argue this runs contrary to Australia's civil rights obligations. "As a party to the core United Nations human rights treaties, Australia has recognised that freedom of assembly is a fundamental human right and, in consequence, NSW must protect it," Australian Lawyers for Human Rights vice president Kerry Weste said. Meanwhile, Victoria's new police commissioner Mike Bush has reiterated his state would not adopt a protest permit system. That's despite police being unsuccessful in having organisers of a pro-Palestine rally in Melbourne on Sunday alter their route. The Free Palestine Coalition Naarm says it will protest in solidarity with Sydney and march through the city to the King Street Bridge. Victoria Police say the protest will cause significant disruption to the community and impact emergency services. "While we always respect the right for people to protest peacefully, we are clear that this should be done without impacting the broader community," a police spokesperson said. The number of Palestinians killed during the war in Gaza is now more than 60,000 according to local health authorities, while the United Nations says dozens of people have died in recent weeks due to starvation. Israel's campaign began after Hamas, which Australia has designated as terror group, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking some 250 hostage. Protesters and politicians pledge to defy any court order banning a pro-Palestine march from an Australian landmark, with a state MP labelling it "inevitable". Aimed at shining a spotlight on starvation among the people of Gaza as a result of Israel's offensive in the enclave, the rally at the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday has been hyped by organisers as a "March for Humanity". Similar demonstrations are planned in Melbourne and Adelaide, and an online petition to allow the Sydney march has attracted more than 15,000 signatures. But NSW Police walked into the Supreme Court on Friday afternoon to request the rally be deemed unauthorised, allowing officers to arrest people for blocking road traffic. A decision is expected later in the day. Organisers Palestine Action Group Sydney vow to rally regardless of the judge's decision, with spokesman Josh Lees saying the groundswell of support was unstoppable. "Whether or not Palestine Action Group has anything to do with it, there are going to be tens of thousands of people gathered, determined to march for humanity over our Sydney Harbour Bridge to stop a genocide," he said outside court. Five NSW Labor MPs are among a 15-strong group of politicians planning to join the march. They have urged the government to facilitate a safe and orderly event on Sunday or "some other agreed date". Outspoken upper house government MP Stephen Lawrence went a step further, predicting Premier Chris Minns' perceived interference in police negotiations with protesters would hamper the court's ability to thwart the bridge plans. "The circumstances of this protest are not ideal, but the event is now absolutely inevitable, largely because of the way it has been mishandled," he said. Mr Minns softened his largely anti-protest stance on Friday and said he hoped organisers would work with the police to find an alternative route. "There are thousands of people that want to be part of the protest, it's not deniable, and many people have been struck by images that have come out of Gaza," he said. The premier had earlier suggested the Harbour Bridge protest would bring "chaos" to Sydney. Mr Lawrence and fellow MP Sarah Kaine said the premier's position ran counter to Labor Party values. NSW has a permit system that allows protesters to block public roads and infrastructure, but a court can revoke those immunities if police challenge the permit. Lawyers argue this runs contrary to Australia's civil rights obligations. "As a party to the core United Nations human rights treaties, Australia has recognised that freedom of assembly is a fundamental human right and, in consequence, NSW must protect it," Australian Lawyers for Human Rights vice president Kerry Weste said. Meanwhile, Victoria's new police commissioner Mike Bush has reiterated his state would not adopt a protest permit system. That's despite police being unsuccessful in having organisers of a pro-Palestine rally in Melbourne on Sunday alter their route. The Free Palestine Coalition Naarm says it will protest in solidarity with Sydney and march through the city to the King Street Bridge. Victoria Police say the protest will cause significant disruption to the community and impact emergency services. "While we always respect the right for people to protest peacefully, we are clear that this should be done without impacting the broader community," a police spokesperson said. The number of Palestinians killed during the war in Gaza is now more than 60,000 according to local health authorities, while the United Nations says dozens of people have died in recent weeks due to starvation. Israel's campaign began after Hamas, which Australia has designated as terror group, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking some 250 hostage. Protesters and politicians pledge to defy any court order banning a pro-Palestine march from an Australian landmark, with a state MP labelling it "inevitable". Aimed at shining a spotlight on starvation among the people of Gaza as a result of Israel's offensive in the enclave, the rally at the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday has been hyped by organisers as a "March for Humanity". Similar demonstrations are planned in Melbourne and Adelaide, and an online petition to allow the Sydney march has attracted more than 15,000 signatures. But NSW Police walked into the Supreme Court on Friday afternoon to request the rally be deemed unauthorised, allowing officers to arrest people for blocking road traffic. A decision is expected later in the day. Organisers Palestine Action Group Sydney vow to rally regardless of the judge's decision, with spokesman Josh Lees saying the groundswell of support was unstoppable. "Whether or not Palestine Action Group has anything to do with it, there are going to be tens of thousands of people gathered, determined to march for humanity over our Sydney Harbour Bridge to stop a genocide," he said outside court. Five NSW Labor MPs are among a 15-strong group of politicians planning to join the march. They have urged the government to facilitate a safe and orderly event on Sunday or "some other agreed date". Outspoken upper house government MP Stephen Lawrence went a step further, predicting Premier Chris Minns' perceived interference in police negotiations with protesters would hamper the court's ability to thwart the bridge plans. "The circumstances of this protest are not ideal, but the event is now absolutely inevitable, largely because of the way it has been mishandled," he said. Mr Minns softened his largely anti-protest stance on Friday and said he hoped organisers would work with the police to find an alternative route. "There are thousands of people that want to be part of the protest, it's not deniable, and many people have been struck by images that have come out of Gaza," he said. The premier had earlier suggested the Harbour Bridge protest would bring "chaos" to Sydney. Mr Lawrence and fellow MP Sarah Kaine said the premier's position ran counter to Labor Party values. NSW has a permit system that allows protesters to block public roads and infrastructure, but a court can revoke those immunities if police challenge the permit. Lawyers argue this runs contrary to Australia's civil rights obligations. "As a party to the core United Nations human rights treaties, Australia has recognised that freedom of assembly is a fundamental human right and, in consequence, NSW must protect it," Australian Lawyers for Human Rights vice president Kerry Weste said. Meanwhile, Victoria's new police commissioner Mike Bush has reiterated his state would not adopt a protest permit system. That's despite police being unsuccessful in having organisers of a pro-Palestine rally in Melbourne on Sunday alter their route. The Free Palestine Coalition Naarm says it will protest in solidarity with Sydney and march through the city to the King Street Bridge. Victoria Police say the protest will cause significant disruption to the community and impact emergency services. "While we always respect the right for people to protest peacefully, we are clear that this should be done without impacting the broader community," a police spokesperson said. The number of Palestinians killed during the war in Gaza is now more than 60,000 according to local health authorities, while the United Nations says dozens of people have died in recent weeks due to starvation. Israel's campaign began after Hamas, which Australia has designated as terror group, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking some 250 hostage. Protesters and politicians pledge to defy any court order banning a pro-Palestine march from an Australian landmark, with a state MP labelling it "inevitable". Aimed at shining a spotlight on starvation among the people of Gaza as a result of Israel's offensive in the enclave, the rally at the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday has been hyped by organisers as a "March for Humanity". Similar demonstrations are planned in Melbourne and Adelaide, and an online petition to allow the Sydney march has attracted more than 15,000 signatures. But NSW Police walked into the Supreme Court on Friday afternoon to request the rally be deemed unauthorised, allowing officers to arrest people for blocking road traffic. A decision is expected later in the day. Organisers Palestine Action Group Sydney vow to rally regardless of the judge's decision, with spokesman Josh Lees saying the groundswell of support was unstoppable. "Whether or not Palestine Action Group has anything to do with it, there are going to be tens of thousands of people gathered, determined to march for humanity over our Sydney Harbour Bridge to stop a genocide," he said outside court. Five NSW Labor MPs are among a 15-strong group of politicians planning to join the march. They have urged the government to facilitate a safe and orderly event on Sunday or "some other agreed date". Outspoken upper house government MP Stephen Lawrence went a step further, predicting Premier Chris Minns' perceived interference in police negotiations with protesters would hamper the court's ability to thwart the bridge plans. "The circumstances of this protest are not ideal, but the event is now absolutely inevitable, largely because of the way it has been mishandled," he said. Mr Minns softened his largely anti-protest stance on Friday and said he hoped organisers would work with the police to find an alternative route. "There are thousands of people that want to be part of the protest, it's not deniable, and many people have been struck by images that have come out of Gaza," he said. The premier had earlier suggested the Harbour Bridge protest would bring "chaos" to Sydney. Mr Lawrence and fellow MP Sarah Kaine said the premier's position ran counter to Labor Party values. NSW has a permit system that allows protesters to block public roads and infrastructure, but a court can revoke those immunities if police challenge the permit. Lawyers argue this runs contrary to Australia's civil rights obligations. "As a party to the core United Nations human rights treaties, Australia has recognised that freedom of assembly is a fundamental human right and, in consequence, NSW must protect it," Australian Lawyers for Human Rights vice president Kerry Weste said. Meanwhile, Victoria's new police commissioner Mike Bush has reiterated his state would not adopt a protest permit system. That's despite police being unsuccessful in having organisers of a pro-Palestine rally in Melbourne on Sunday alter their route. The Free Palestine Coalition Naarm says it will protest in solidarity with Sydney and march through the city to the King Street Bridge. Victoria Police say the protest will cause significant disruption to the community and impact emergency services. "While we always respect the right for people to protest peacefully, we are clear that this should be done without impacting the broader community," a police spokesperson said. The number of Palestinians killed during the war in Gaza is now more than 60,000 according to local health authorities, while the United Nations says dozens of people have died in recent weeks due to starvation. Israel's campaign began after Hamas, which Australia has designated as terror group, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking some 250 hostage.
Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Aussie activists ‘brutalised' by IDF
A pair of Aussie activists have touched down in Sydney after they spent several weeks in Israeli Defence Forces custody after a failed mission to supply food and aid to the starving people of Gaza. Journalist and filmmaker Tan Safi and activist Robert Martin were part of a 21-strong crew that set sail aboard the 'Handala' as part of a humanitarian mission. Since Israel began military operations in Gaza in October 2023, 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in a campaign that prominent Israeli humanitarian organisations labelled as 'genocide' on Monday. Robert Martin and Tan Safi address Australian media at Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport after being released from IDF custody. Free Gaza Australia Credit: Supplied While speaking to the media at Sydney Airport on Friday morning, the pair said they were 'psychologically brutalised' by their captors. 'We were in international waters at the time, and we were taken completely against our will and just brutalised psychologically in every way,' Safi said. 'We were on a hunger and water strike, but the only time they offered food was once and it was a tomato about (the size of a golf ball),' she said. In a video published on Sunday, Safi said she had been 'abducted' by the Israeli military, and urged supporters to 'put pressure on the Australian government to sanction Israel'. Safi and Mr Martin tried to deliver aid into Gaza. Free Gaza Australia Credit: Supplied The Freedom Flotilla departed from Syracuse, Italy, on July 13, fully equipped with humanitarian supplies, en route to Gaza. Free Gaza Australia, the Australian branch of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) that organised the expedition, said the cargo of the Handala 'carried desperately needed lifesaving humanitarian cargo, including baby formula, food, and medical supplies, to the Palestinian people in Gaza'. At about midnight on July 26, the Handala was intercepted by the Israeli military about 80km miles off the coast of Gaza – an area that is considered to be international waters. The Handala is the second ship organised by the Freedom Flotilla to be intercepted by the IDF. Free Gaza Australia Credit: Supplied Footage shows the moment Israeli troops boarded the flotilla, brandishing assault weapons and pointing them in the direction of flotilla activists who sat in the middle of their ship with hands outstretched. The crew had agreed before their arrest they would engage in a hunger strike in solidarity with Palestinians. Every crew member has now been deported to their country of residence or are in the process of repatriation. In a social media post on Friday morning, Free Gaza Australia said plans were already under way for another expedition to Palestine. Australia's pro-Palestine movement has gained significant traction since 2023. NewsWire / Valeriu Campan Credit: News Corp Australia 'Robert and Tan are home and we're already preparing the next Freedom Flotilla boat to break the siege of Gaza. We sail until Palestine is free,' it said. Allegations have also surfaced of other Freedom Flotilla crew members being abused by IDF soldiers. The FFC said US crew member Chris Smalls was beaten, kicked and choked by at least seven IDF soldiers as he and the other crew members were being detained in the only physical display of brutality catalogued by members of the Flotilla. Among the activists was Greta Thunberg, who has since been sent back to Sweden by Israeli authorities.
