Shadow attorney-general Michaelia Cash has defended her senior adviser, Brett McCarthy, for writing a newspaper article praising war hero Ben Roberts-Smith and urging continued public support despite his looming war crimes trial. McCarthy, former editor of The West Australian, stated his long-held views on Roberts-Smith's bravery, emphasizing that the charges do not alter his opinion. The article, published in a personal capacity and not disclosed to the Opposition Leader's office, has highlighted divisions within the Coalition regarding their response to Roberts-Smith's legal proceedings. While Cash and others emphasize the rule of law and presumption of innocence, some within the party fear electoral repercussions if Roberts-Smith is not publicly supported, drawing parallels to One Nation's campaigning and attacks on figures like Andrew Hastie.