What's happened
On September 12, 2024, Defence Minister Richard Marles announced the stripping of medals from up to nine Australian commanders linked to war crimes in Afghanistan, as revealed in the Brereton Report. This decision has sparked controversy and concern over its impact on veterans' mental health.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Alisha Rahaman Sarkar from The Independent, Defence Minister Richard Marles stated that the allegations in the Brereton Report represent 'the most serious allegations of Australian war crimes in our history.' This sentiment is echoed by Martin Hamilton-Smith, chair of the Australian SAS Association, who condemned the decision as a betrayal of soldiers' courage. Meanwhile, Anna Henderson from SBS highlights concerns raised by Lambie regarding the timing of the decision, which coincided with a report on veteran suicides, suggesting a lack of sensitivity from the government. The contrasting views illustrate the tension between accountability and support for veterans in the wake of these serious allegations.
How we got here
The Brereton Report, released in 2020, detailed evidence of war crimes committed by Australian troops in Afghanistan, including the unlawful killing of 39 civilians. Following this, Defence Minister Richard Marles has taken steps to hold commanders accountable.
More on these topics
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The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia and its national interests. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and several "tri-service" units.
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Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central and South Asia.
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Major General Paul Le Gay Brereton, AM, RFD is a Judge of the New South Wales Court of Appeal and a senior officer in the Australian Army Reserve.
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Australia, officially known as the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands.
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Jacquiline Louise Lambie is an Australian politician who is the leader and founder of the Jacqui Lambie Network. She was a Senator for Tasmania from 2014 to 2017, and was re-elected in 2019.