Ex special forces commander Heston Russell unleashes on Treasurer Jim Chalmers after 'ridiculous' excuse for budget blowout

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Former commando Heston Russell has turned his attention away from sworn enemy the ABC to deliver a stinging slap down to the Treasurer, accusing him of failing 'basic accounting' by attempting to blame veterans for a budget blow out.

Mr Russell, who successfully sued the ABC last year for falsely reporting he was under investigation for shooting an unarmed prisoner, was scathing about Jim Chalmers' excuse that budget 'slippage' was caused by spending on veterans.

Ahead of a mid-year statement Dr Chalmers on Sunday said a $1.8billion 'backlog' of veterans' payments inherited from the Coalition would put 'substantial pressure' on the budget's bottom line.

'It’s pretty incredible that the Treasurer tries to justify a budget blowout on backlogged veteran payments,' Mr Russell tweeted on Tuesday. 

'Probably the safest excuses for public acceptance – but why didn’t he forecast this from the last budget? Did he not do his due diligence then? #Excuses'

Mr Russell continued his line of thought in a subsequent social media post where he also aimed some salvos at the national broadcaster.

'Let’s see the extra expenditure for say – ABC legal cost, the ABC MD retiring early and receiving half a million PA pension earlier while paying the full salary of a new MD as well,' he posted.

Former ADF commando Heston Russell is pictured

'All seems far too convenient & cashing in on support for veterans post the Royal Commission.' 

It was announced today that the ABC was appointing former Nine CEO Hugh Marks as its new managing director following the decision of David Anderson to quit just one year into a five-year reappointment. 

In answer to an X user asking how the Treasurer could budget for claims not yet lodged, Mr Russell said he did not believe that was what Dr Chalmers was referring to.

'It’s not talking about not yet lodged at all – so you would do due diligence and at least providing an estimate for those already lodged and awaiting assessment and payout – as has been the case every year,' Mr Russell tweeted.

'It’s pretty fundamental basic accounting.' 

Mr Russell received received a wave of support for his comments online.

'They were backlogged. They knew they were there. There's no excuse for not budgeting them,' one X user wrote. 

'If this is true it shows how superficial the budget prep is any junior accountant would have shown an accrual for this known liability,' another said.   

Dr Chalmers said the $1.8billion bill for veterans was a backlog inherited from the Coalition 

A third added: 'There’s no way they could blame wiping student hecs debt (vote buying) or electricity rebates (vote buying) or the voice failure or greenwashing energy dreams (virtue signalling).'

'No, no - it had to be those pesky veterans and their "money grab".' 

In April, Mr Russell criticised the Albanese government for not supporting him during his defamation action against the ABC.

Mr Russell singled out Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Defence Personnel Matt Keogh in particular.

Mr Russell said had been 'absolutely underwhelmed' by the response Mr Keogh provided during a meeting in Canberra.

'My opening comment was: "Why have we not had any comment from your government?" To which he told me, "It's not government policy to comment on what media organisations do",' Mr Russell said.

In October 2023, Mr Russell (pictured) won his defamation case against the ABC after a Federal Court judge ruled it could not prove articles it published were reported in the public interest 

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'So I said, "Myself and my entire platoon had been through hell at the hands of the ABC: ... Of which I got a response saying: 'I'm a lawyer and I always need to default to what's appropriate by the law'.'

Mr Russell said he had not heard from anybody in authority regarding the issue in the three years since the article's publication and the subsequent lawsuit.

'Not even reaching out for a welfare check,' Mr Russell said.

In October 2023, Mr Russell won his defamation case against the ABC after a Federal Court judge ruled the broadcaster could not prove articles it published were in the public interest.

Mr Russell sued the ABC and two investigative journalists over stories that he claimed gave the false impression he was under investigation for shooting an unarmed prisoner.

Those stories, written and produced by journalists Mark Willacy and Josh Robertson, aired on television, radio and online in October 2020 and on November 19, 2021.

The defamation case is estimated to have cost taxpayers up to $3.5million in legal fees on top of the almost $400,000 in damages paid to Mr Russell.

In September, the ABC was forced to admit audio of extra gunshots was added to a video clip of Australian troops firing from a helicopter in Afghanistan.

The doctored footage from the helicopter, where Mr Russell commanded the soldier seen firing a single warning shot at villagers, was identified by Channel Seven's Spotlight program.