Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles has revoked distinguished service medals from several Australian Defence Force (ADF) officers in response to findings from the Brereton Report, which exposed alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan under their command.
While the exact number of affected officers remains undisclosed, it is fewer than ten. This decision is part of the government’s continued efforts to address accountability issues highlighted by the 2020 report. The report recommended investigations into 19 soldiers for the killing of 39 Afghan civilians and prisoners, as well as the mistreatment of two others.
Although the report did not find evidence that higher-ranking commanders were aware of the crimes, it did hold them morally responsible for the actions of their units.
Some commanders have lost their honours, but former Chief of Defence Force Angus Campbell, who led Australian forces in the Middle East, retains his Distinguished Service Cross.
The government has addressed nearly all of the 143 recommendations from the report and has initiated a compensation process for victims of Australian military misconduct. However, the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) continues its inquiries into potential prosecutions, which are expected to take years.
The decision has sparked controversy within the defence community. Critics, including veterans’ groups and political figures such as Senator Jacqui Lambie, have criticized the timing of the announcement, which coincides with the release of a royal commission report on Defence and Veterans Suicide. Some argue that the investigation did not extend far enough up the chain of command to hold top officers accountable.
Despite the backlash, Marles stressed the importance of accountability for war crimes and commended the bravery of those who brought the allegations forward.
