Pea whistleblower wins

Civil justice accolades flowed last week for famed former intelligence officer Andrew Wilkie, the man who blew the whistle on Australia’s involvement in Iraq war by sensationally condemning the Howard Government’s decision to join the attack.

The insider’s remarkable mid-year choice to stand down from his post at the Office of national Assessments and speak publicly about fears the war could spark military or humanitarian disaster, won him the 2003 National Civil Justice Award on behalf of the Australian Plaintiff lawyers Association (APLA).

Speaking shortly after the winner was announced, APLA president John Gordon said Wilkie’s stance was made “in the name of truth.”

“he spoke bravely and had the courage of his convictions to go public, risking his career, because he could not be silent whilst the government pursued a war which he believed was unethical and unjust,” Gordon said.