The Government has declared it will pursue those responsible for the "appalling" behaviour of Australian special forces soldiers in Afghanistan, including the murder of civilians.
Key points:
- Linda Reynolds says accountability will be the focus of Defence's response
- An independent investigative body has been established and has Labor's support
- Another panel will provide oversight of the response by the ADF to the Defence Minister
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said "accountability will be the cornerstone of Defence's response" to the report, which found evidence of 39 civilians being murdered and recommended 19 soldiers be investigated by police.
"This is crucial to maintaining the highest standards Australians expect of our military, reassuring confidence and trust, and learning from grave failings," she said in a statement.
The Government announced last week it had established an Office of the Special Investigator to prosecute the alleged crimes detailed in the report, by the Inspector-General of the ADF.
The conduct investigated by the inquiry spanned both Labor and Liberal governments.
Labor's defence spokesperson Richard Marles and shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus said today they supported the creation of the office.
"Findings in the report that credible information exists in relation to some members of Australia's special forces having engaged in unlawful killings and cruel treatment while deployed in Afghanistan are appalling," their statement said.
"It is now appropriate that [the Office of the Special Investigator] is allowed to do its work free of any prejudice or political interference."
Independent senator Rex Patrick, a former member of the ADF, said there appeared to have been an unacceptable breakdown of oversight, control and discipline.
"The individuals responsible for these atrocities must be fully held to account," he said.
"So too must those in the ADF chain of command who were responsible for the units and operations in question."
Defence response in focus
Last week the Government also established the Afghanistan Inquiry Implementation Oversight Panel to report to Senator Reynolds about how Defence is handling the response.
ADF Chief Angus Campbell announced that the SAS's 2nd Squadron would be disbanded, and said all other options were still on the table.
"Individuals alleged of unlawful criminal conduct will be referred to the Office of the Special Investigator," he said.
"Individuals alleged to be negligent in the performance of their duty, will be managed through administrative and disciplinary processes."
Glenn Kolomeitz, a lawyer for multiple special forces witnesses who gave evidence to the inquiry, said some of his clients welcomed the prospect of police prosecution, but some were "quite disturbed by it" given the proud record and reputation of their units.
"My concern is, how far up the chain of command do these adverse cultural findings go?" he said.
Retired Admiral Chris Barrie served as chief of the Defence Force from 1998 to 2002 and said he was shocked by the report.
"We will all be diminished by the fact that these few people have tarnished our reputation. We will need to do a lot of work to recover it, but I have no doubt we will recover it in due course."
A 2016 investigation by sociologist Samantha Crompvoets into cultural problems within the ADF triggered the inquiry.
She said witnesses she spoke to felt powerless.
"There has been failures of leadership, people whose character is perhaps unethical before they even got into the special forces, and they've taken advantage of opportunities to behave in particular ways and [of] a failure of reporting."
Response 'cannot be behind closed doors'
The oversight panel is led by the former inspector-general of Intelligence and Security, Dr Vivienne Thom, and Senator Reynolds said it would "provide further assurance to the Government and the Australian people of Defence accountability".
WA's Veterans Issues Minister Peter Tinley served 17 of his 25 years in the Army with the special forces.
He said today's revelations were "one of the toughest things" he had ever listened to.
"The Defence Force is not separate from the community. It is of the community, and needs to, at all times, reflect the expectations, ambitions, aspirations of what it is to be Australian."
Mr Tinley said the matter should be dealt with in an open and transparent manner to keep the public informed.
"This cannot be behind closed doors."
The Government is also encouraging current and former Defence Force members and their families to seek help if they need it.
"I am profoundly conscious this process continues to be extremely challenging and distressing for many individuals and families impacted by the inquiry," Senator Reynolds said.
The Government has created a website that promises to connect people with medical and mental health services, "and in some cases, legal support".
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiamh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTExLTE5L2FmZ2hhbmlzdGFuLXdhci1jcmltZXMtcmVwb3J0LWxpbmRhLXJleW5vbGRzLWRlZmVuY2UtZm9yY2UvMTI4OTk3MDLSASdodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTI4OTk3MDI?oc=5
2020-11-19 02:51:00Z
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