Australia has stripped several senior military commanders of their distinguished service medals following accusations of war crimes committed by Australian troops during the Afghanistan conflict. This decision comes in response to the findings of the landmark Brereton Report, which uncovered a “warrior culture” within parts of the Australian Defence Force and “credible evidence” that elite soldiers unlawfully killed 39 people during the war.
In parliament, Defence Minister Richard Marles described the alleged war crimes as “a national shame” and emphasized that Australia must hold itself accountable on the global stage. The stripping of medals targets commanders who, while not directly implicated in war crimes, were held morally responsible for the actions of troops under their watch. Marles declined to specify how many officers are affected, but local media report the number is fewer than ten.
The Brereton Report, released in 2020, did not find evidence that high-ranking officers were aware of the alleged crimes, but it held troop, squadron, and task group commanders morally accountable for failing to prevent the misconduct. These commanders had been awarded the distinguished service medals for leadership during warlike operations, which are now being revoked due to their role in overseeing the troops involved.
Marles also praised the majority of Australian defense personnel who served in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2021, acknowledging their “sacred service” while stressing the importance of addressing the alleged wrongdoing.
This decision does not affect individuals currently under investigation for war crimes, including Australia’s most decorated living soldier, Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith. Roberts-Smith denies any wrongdoing, but a high-profile defamation case last year found, on the balance of probabilities, that he had murdered four unarmed prisoners. He has not been criminally charged. Additionally, dozens of Australian soldiers are under investigation for their roles in the alleged war crimes, with only one, former SAS trooper Oliver Schulz, currently facing charges.
The issue of holding senior commanders accountable has been divisive. Some veterans argue that commanders are being unfairly punished for the actions of others, while a government-commissioned report in May noted lingering “anger and bitter resentment” among some that senior officers have not accepted responsibility for policies that may have contributed to the misconduct.
Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie, a former SAS soldier, responded to the decision, urging that Australia “learn from this tragic and bitter chapter in our military history” and stressing the need for both soldiers and leaders to seek out and tell the truth.
The revocation of these medals is seen as a step toward accountability as Australia continues to grapple with the fallout of these serious allegations from its military history.
