I attach a media release put out jointly yesterday by the national leadership of the SAS Association and the Commando Association, with the full support of the RSL. The release speaks for itself. Revised-media-release16-Final-30-NovDownload For over two years now we...
Afghanistan Inquiry
Elite soldiers blast Defence chief Angus Campbell over handling of Afghanistan war crimes report
Thursday 1st Dec 2022
By defence correspondent Andrew Greene Veterans’ groups are demanding the Albanese government pull rank on the Defence chief to prevent him revoking medals over command failures in Afghanistan, before any alleged war crimes are proven in court. Key points: The...
Commentary: Defence ducks probe into war crimes accountability
Tuesday 13th Sep 2022
Source: BEN PACKHAM The Australian Newspaper's Foreign Affairs & Defence Correspondent - September 13, 2022 Defence has avoided an inquiry into the accountability of senior commanders for war crimes despite the findings of an independent panel, which said it...
Officers escape punishment for SAS soldier ‘crimes’
Monday 18th Apr 2022
The Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, has shelved any punishment for seven senior army officers who failed to prevent war crimes on their watch in Afghanistan, and has exonerated a further 21, saying they should “learn from their...
Commentary – Defence is avoiding scrutiny on its long-awaited response to the Brereton inquiry
Tuesday 10th Aug 2021
If Defence is determined to learn the lessons of the past, why isn’t it being upfront with the public on its response to the Brereton war crimes inquiry? Justice Paul Brereton’s report last November laid bare the most shameful chapter in the Australian Defence Force’s...
Opinion: ADF – Ideological grenade tossed into the mix as distraction
Saturday 5th Jun 2021
AS the inimitable Sir Humphrey Appleby once opined, “Minister, two basic rules of government: Never look into anything you don’t have to. “And never set up an inquiry unless you know in advance what its findings will be.”. It should have been the first caution given...
Opinion: Ben Roberts-Smith welcomes Royal Commission, slams treatment of veterans
Monday 26th Apr 2021
Australia’s most decorated war hero has delivered a scathing attack on the Australian Defence Force’s top brass for their “disgusting” treatment of veterans and “staggering” lack of direction. Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith said military commanders had run...
Opinion: Comment on the Afghanistan Allegations
Monday 14th Dec 2020
“I have been following the public debate on the allegations that our soldiers have committed criminal acts whilst deployed on operations in Afghanistan. I feel compelled to take a moment to comment on the Brereton report and its allegations the SAS committed war...