From The Australian June 2, 2023 Readers have their say on the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation decision. Welcome to the column where you provide the content. Greg Sheridan weighed in on the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case loss, suggesting it would deliver a profound...
Brereton Report
Re-action to the CDF’s Intention to Remove Medals From Afghanistan Veterans
Monday 29th May 2023
See the joint Media Release from the Australian Special Air Service Association (ASASA), the Commando Association and the RSL National here In addition to this Media Release. the Chairman of the ASASA Martin Hamilton-Smith has written the following letter to all ESOs....
Opinion: Due process needs to be followed for justice
Saturday 27th May 2023
There are none so blind as those who would not see If CDF-for-life Angus Campbell has his way, seven senior special forces, some of whom served operationally under his command, will be stripped of their distinguished service awards. None has been tried or convicted of...
ABC NEWS: Australian Defence Force chief Angus Campbell renews calls to strip medals from Afghanistan war veterans
Thursday 25th May 2023
Defence Chief Angus Campbell has launched a fresh attempt to remove awards from some soldiers who held command positions in the Afghanistan war, following the damning findings of the Brereton inquiry. Key points: Veterans groups are furious at the latest attempt...
Media Release: Veterans Condemn CDF Proposal to Strip Soldiers of Distinguished Service Medals awarded in the Afghanistan War
Wednesday 24th May 2023
Senior Veteran leaders (are calling on the federal government to reject outright the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) General Angus Campbell’s second attempt to strip awards for distinguished and conspicuous service on warlike operations from soldiers who served the...
‘Pride and anger’: Elite Australian Special Forces soldiers’ overhaul by Department of Defence
Saturday 4th Feb 2023
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION The Australian public can again have confidence in their elite Special Forces with a report card concluding more women, diversity and “humility” put the risk of unethical actions on the battlefield at “low”. But morale is still wavering between...
Australian troops accused of war crimes say enough to three years of being under siege from police
Sunday 15th Jan 2023
Special Forces troops accused of war crimes are calling on authorities to either charge them or let them go after a covert AFP police operation was derailed. A covert Australian Federal Police operation has been derailed with a listening device found by their target...
Opinion: Responsibility for failure rests at the top
Sunday 11th Dec 2022
The obscene business which is war has many rules. Command responsibility, also now called the Yamashita Principle, is that obligation of all commanders to ensure their troops fight within those rules. Failure to do so is considered an omission mode of individual...
VIDEO: Calls to stop stripping Afghanistan veterans of service medals over war crimes
Saturday 3rd Dec 2022
Following his joint media release on the 2nd December Martin Hamilton-Smith, National President of the Australian SAS Regiment Association (ASASRA) was interviewed on ABC TV. In it he explains why Veteran associations want any penalties linked to the outcome of the...
Media Statement – ADSO Calls for Due Process and Presumption of Innocence
Friday 2nd Dec 2022
Yesterday the Australian Special Air Services Association, the Commando Association and the Returned and Services League of Australia issued a joint statement calling on the Federal Government to direct the CDF to respect the presumption of innocence for soldiers...