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Australian of the Year faces further criticism after alleged abuse coverups

Xinhua, February 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

Australian of the Year David Morrison came under further pressure on Thursday, after it was revealed he is charging up to 11,000 U.S. dollars to speak at private functions.

The report came just a day after Senator Jacqui Lambie called for his resignation, and accused the former army chief of being in charge of the military when a number of violence and sexual abuse cases were covered up by the army's "top brass."

General Morrison was awarded Australia's top honor in January, after he championed women's rights and stood firm against perpetrators of violence and sexism in the armed forces.

But on Thursday, Rod Thompson, from not-for-profit veterans organization The Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans' Association, told News Corp that it was "offensive" that Morrison was charging more than three times his predecessor to talk at private functions.

"Anyone in the position of Australian of the Year should be willing to speak on issues close to their heart without charging and it goes to show the character of the man that the Australian of the Year is actually for sale," Thompson said.

"(Former Australian of the Year and domestic violence activist) Rosie Batty championed the issues that were close to her heart and I think David Morrison is championing politically correct issues. David Morrison is no Rosie Batty," Thompson added.

In contrast, Batty charged just 3,500 U.S. dollars for her appearances, in which she campaigned tirelessly against domestic violence in local communities.

Meanwhile, after Lambie called for Morrison's resignation as Australian of the Year on Wednesday, the senator followed up on Thursday by saying he has a "guilty conscience" as veterans continue to come forward with abuse claims which allegedly occurred under Morrison's watch.

"I had the veterans in there and they are making statements," Lambie told the Nine Network on Thursday.

"I have got phone calls coming through my office. This is just the start for Morrison. He's got a guilty conscience. He is as guilty as hell and he knows that."

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