ABC agrees to review war crimes report set to be subject of Senate inquiry

The ABC has agreed to an independent review of a stunning war crime claim it made in a report which could be subject of a Senate inquiry.

The ABC has backflipped on war crimes claims against Aussie soldiers.

The ABC has agreed to conduct an independent review of accuracy and standards related to a report in which it accused a specific commando platoon of murder in Afghanistan.

The move comes just days after ABC chair Ita Buttrose branded a push to hold a Senate inquiry into the network’s complaints handling system, as a “blatant” attempt to undermine its independence.

The move to an inquiry by Senator Andrew Bragg, who heads the Senate communications committee, was due to be debated on Monday with the commando story at the centre of its push.

But on Thursday ABC Corporate Affairs confirmed its Audience and Consumer Affairs unit – independent of the network’s News – “has carefully considered this issue and decided to accept” the complaint which it noted was “serious and complex”.

“Please be aware that given the serious and complex issues raised in your complaint, the time elapsed since the story was published, and the availability of key staff our investigation may take some time,” it added.

Senator Andrew Bragg heads the Senate communications committee. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The apparent backflip came after the ABC Board and ABC Managing Director David Anderson were directly approached with the issue which was also posted online and attracted more than 5000 shares and 100,000 engagements in a week.

The complaint relates to an ABC report in October last year on an incident in 2012 where a bound Afghan prisoner was allegedly murdered by Australian Special Forces because there was not enough room for him in the extraction helicopter.

The report was based on testimony from an unnamed US Marine in the aircraft who said he “saw” members of November Platoon capture seven prisoners but after being told there was room for only six, the 2nd Commando regiment platoon then presented at the Huey chopper when it arrived, with only six.

The former commander of November Platoon Heston Russell said the incident just didn’t happen and together with 18 members of the platoon asked the ABC for a review and apology.

Former SAS officer Heston Russell in 2012 in Afghanistan.

He said not only was the report false – neither the commando platoon nor Defence had any record of retrieving six prisoners from Helmand Province let alone executing one – but it was the highly defamatory of all members from the unit, many now severely distressed with families asking whether their dads murdered a man.

The now retired Major Russell, who led every mission his platoon undertook, said the ABC response to his detailed 10-page appeal for a review was it fell outside its six-week window between a report and when a complaint should be received and asked for further justification for why a review should take place; a week later it confirmed the matter would be reviewed.

“It simply never happened, it’s that simple but the damage this has done and continues to do to our veterans and our families cannot be understated,” Mr Russell said.

Heston Russell is the founder of Voice Of A Veteran. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“I have never had to fight so hard to support those that went into combat than I have had to here in the last year at home and its from attacks like this which are more serious than any bullet being fired because it puts your family, your employment, everything on the line including having to identify ourselves to some extremists anywhere else in the world.”

Of the 39 alleged murders by 25 Special Forces members between 2009 to 2013 investigated by the Inspector General of the ADF (IGADF) in its Brereton report and currently being investigated by the Australian Federal Police, it is understood none involve commandos but rather the SAS.

Mr Russell confirmed despite twice being called by the inquiry to discuss ADF Special Forces, no allegation was ever put to him.

Ahead of the investigation, the ABC yesterday issued a lengthy defence of the report, standing by its accuracy and journalists.

“The story was the result of extensive work over two months, including multiple interviews with our key source, who stands by his account,” a spokeswoman concluded.