Andrew Hastie blasts Defence over publication of unsubstantiated allegation Australian soldiers killed Afghan children

Andrew Hastie has blasted Defence over its decision to allow the publication of an unsubstantiated allegation that Australian soldiers killed Afghan children.

Federal Liberal MP Andrew Hastie. Picture: Tony McDonough

Liberal MP and former special forces captain Andrew Hastie has blasted Defence over its decision to allow the publication of an unsubstantiated allegation that Australian soldiers killed Afghan children, saying it had delivered China an unnecessary propaganda win.

The allegation was not part of the Brereton war crimes report released two weeks ago, but a separate report by sociologist Samantha Crompvoets, which preceded the four-year inquiry by NSW Supreme Court judge Paul Brereton.

On Monday, China’s Foreign Ministry tweeted a meme by a Chinese artist that seized on the allegation, depicting an Australian soldier slitting the throat of an Afghan child.

“The Crompvoets (report) detailed unproven rumours of Australian soldiers murdering Afghan children,” Mr Hastie told parliament on Thursday.

“It may have prompted the Brereton report, but its evidentiary threshold was far lower.

“The Brereton report neither rules these rumours in or out. So why are they in the open?

“It has undermined public confidence in the process and allowed the People’s Republic of China to malign our troops.”

Mr Hastie said the propaganda attack was “calculated, deliberate and designed to undermine the political and social cohesion of our country”.

“Australia is seeking to be honest and accountable for alleged wrongdoing by a small number of individuals entrusted to wear our flag,” he said.

“We are owning our mistakes. This is in stark contrast to the People’s Republic of China.

“We are yet to receive an apology from the People’s Republic of China. And I’m not holding my breath waiting for one.”

He also blasted Twitter for its refusal to take down the offending tweet as requested by Scott Morrison.

“If it wasn’t clear already: we, Australians, alone are responsible for our sovereignty. “Authoritarian regimes actively undermine it. Silicon Valley doesn’t care about it.”

He said Australians needed to stand together, warning “difficult days lie ahead”.

On Monday, General Campbell backed away from his plan to strip the joint unit awards from all special operations task group members, amid pushback by the Prime Minister who said such decisions would be the subject of “extensive and considered deliberation”.