As per the recommendation of a historic investigation that said there was an unbridled “warrior culture” in some areas of the force, Defense Minister Richard Marles announced in parliament on Thursday that they would forfeit their distinguished service medals.
In 2020, the Brereton Report was made public and contained “credible evidence” that 39 persons had been unjustly killed by elite Australian soldiers in the Afghanistan War.
Mr. Marles stated, “This will always be a national shame.”
“At the same time… [this is] a demonstration to the Australian people and to the world, that Australia is a country which holds itself accountable.”
Although the local media reports that fewer than ten officers are impacted, he would not confirm this number.
Marles also emphasized that the great majority of Australian defense personnel who served in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021 had rendered “sacred service” and commended those who contributed to bringing the purported misconduct to light.
The ruling has no bearing on those who are being investigated for war crimes directly, such as Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross.
Although he disputes any involvement, he was convicted guilty of the balance of probabilities in a high-profile defamation case last year of killing four unarmed detainees. Regarding the accusations, he has not been charged criminally.
