Australian Politicians Voice Concerns Over Planned U.S. Execution Livestream

Nidal Hasan is seen in a booking photo after being moved to the Bell County Jail in Belton, Texas, on April 9, 2010. Bell County Sheriff's Office via Getty Images

Politicians from across Australia’s political spectrum have expressed strong concerns about the U.S. government’s plans to livestream a military execution by firing squad in December.

One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce believed the execution was not something Australians should be watching.

“This is Roman amphitheatre stuff,” he told News24.

“We don’t have the death penalty in Australia, and I certainly don’t want any children, or anybody … to witness another human being being shot by a firing squad.”

However, Joyce refrained from commenting on the U.S. government’s decision, saying the death penalty itself was “a discussion for the American people to have.”

Meanwhile, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has written to the eSafety Commissioner seeking assurances that the livestream will not be accessible in Australia.

“I think this is incredibly shocking and barbaric, and Australians don’t want this on our screens,” Hanson-Young told the ABC.

The comments relate to the planned execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, a former U.S. Army major who has been convicted of killing 13 people and wounding more than 30 at the Fort Hood military base in Texas in 2009.

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on Oct. 8 that the execution will be broadcasted.

“We'll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it’s public, because people need to understand that there’s serious consequences for these types of things,” he said in an interview with Real America’s Voice.

Responses from Coalition and Labor

Labor Assistant Minister Daniel Mulino declined to weigh in on the issue, telling the ABC he did not want to comment on the “domestic politics of any other country when it comes to matters like this.”

Meanwhile, Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson said he did not endorse violence but questioned whether restricting the livestream in Australia would amount to internet censorship.

“My basic principle is we shouldn’t be promoting that sort of violence and so my fundamental view is yes, I think it’s enormously problematic to tolerate this type of behaviour,” he said.

“But the challenge is going to be: how do you do that in a way that doesn’t amount to a censorship ban on the internet?

When pressed further about what he meant, Wilson said, “If it’s going to be live streamed, how are you going to do that without creating the artifice to be able to block content on the internet and create an online portal of censorship, and the specifics of that, I'll have to leave to others.”