Today in Crikey, Greg Barns launches a fierce attack on the media — in particular The Bulletin and the Sydney Morning Herald — over their “assaults on the character” of former Northern Territory Labor Senator Bob Collins. “What the SMH and The Bulletin have done in publishing the most serious of allegations of sexual abuse when Mr Collins cannot defend himself because he is dead is grossly unfair,” writes Greg Barns. “This is a case of trial by media. The media decides the guilt of someone and is beastly careless about fairness.”

It’s true, of course, that Bob Collins can’t defend himself because he’s dead. And that the allegations, which were about to go to court, will never be tested judicially. And it’s undoubtedly true that publishing the claims of Collins’ accusers a few days after his death has deeply distressed his family and friends.

But what’s really at stake here is the question of what is more important to society: a subjective concept of fairness or the facts about an increasingly apparent abuse of power by a very powerful politician? It’s sad and unfair that Bob Collins died before he could answer his accusers, but sadness and unfairness are nothing compared to the structural damage to society that was inflicted if the growing chorus of detailed allegations against Collins are true.

Even if you disagree with Bulletin journalist Paul Toohey’s use of blunt language to justify his story this week …

The man is dead. He can’t fight back. Nor could the children he pinned down and molested. Bob Collins was not killed by bowel cancer, as has been widely reported. He had beaten it – though there were complications after he had surgery in Adelaide. Collins is being eulogised as a great fighter for the north. But he did untold damage along the way.

… it’s hard to argue with the with the idea that establishing the truth about Bob Collins is much more important than the unfortunate way it seems to be seeping out.