Key Points
- Senior Australian soldiers have been stripped of their war medals.
- Defense Minister Richard Marles sent letters to the senior military personnel concerned to inform him of his decision.
- Defense has implemented all the recommendations of the Brereton Inquiry into alleged war crimes committed during the war in Afghanistan.
Up to nine Australian commanders who served in the Afghanistan war have been stripped of their awards, following an investigation into alleged war crimes.
At least four other senior military personnel under review were allowed to keep their citations.
Those affected were informed of the decision by letter within the last 24 hours.
Defense Minister Richard Marles made the final decision, but he did not reveal exactly how many people are affected or who they are.
The rank of those who lose their citation is also kept secret. The government maintains this is to comply with privacy laws.
“More than 26,000 people served in Afghanistan during that time,” Marles said.
“While this decision may be difficult for a small number of people, it in no way diminishes the service and legacy of the majority of those who served or supported operations there.”
The action does not apply to soldiers who have been directly accused of war crimes, but rather targets those who are part of the chain of command at the troop, squadron and task group level.
Separate criminal investigations are underway into direct allegations of war crimes.
“Any prosecutions by the Office of the Special Investigator will take years,” Marles told Parliament on Thursday morning.
Command group was ‘responsible’ for war crimes
Marles decided to revoke the honors as he prepared to finalize the government’s response to the explosive findings of the Brereton inquiry into alleged war crimes.
“The allegations that are the subject of the Brereton Report are arguably the most serious allegations of Australian war crimes in our history,” he said.
“This will always remain a national shame.”
In 2020, the Inspector General of the Australian Defense Force, Major General Paul Brereton, recommended that 19 soldiers be investigated for the “murder” of 39 prisoners and civilians.
The report recommended a review of awards for those holding command positions during Special Operations Task Force rotations during undisclosed years and a review of those holding command positions in the Special Air Service Regiment between 2008 and 2012.
Supporters of this measure are deeply angry that those at the top of the chain of command are not having their medals examined.
The Brereton inquiry found “no credible information” that the leaders of troops, squadrons and task groups knew war crimes were being committed.
But the report goes on to say that they bear “the moral responsibility of command.”
Former Defense Force chief Angus Campbell was pressured to finally be held accountable and his medals were cancelled.
But Marles followed Brereton’s findings that higher headquarters and defense brass were too far away and met deception and resistance when they tried to investigate.
When the Brereton report was first published, Campbell pledged to strip meritorious awards from thousands of Australian special forces troops, but the former Morrison government blocked the move.
The Albanian government does not intend to reverse this decision.
The investigation into Afghanistan is now “closed”
The Brereton report contained 143 recommendations, and the government says 139 of them have now been implemented.
Four recommendations are pending as they are under review by the Office of the Special Investigator.
ADF members and their families can call the 24/7 Defense Helpline, a confidential telephone and online service, on 1800 628 036.
Open Arms provides free, confidential advice and support to current and former ADF members and their families 24 hours a day on 1800 011 046.
Defense personnel, contemporary veterans and their families can also contact national support service provider Soldier On during office hours on 1300 620 380.
