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