ADF chief Angus Campbell admits ‘perceived conflict’ on Afghanistan medals

Angus Campbell has admitted to a perceived conflict in decision to review honours and awards for ADF Afghanistan commanders.

Chief of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) General Angus Campbell speaks during Senate Estimates at Parliament House in Canberra, Tuesday, June 1, 2021. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) NO ARCHIVING

Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell has admitted to a “perception of a conflict of interest” in his failure to stand aside from a review of honours and awards for the ADF’s Afghanistan commanders amid calls for him to hand back one of his own medals.

But General Campbell said he judged he was capable of leading the review into potential “administrative action” to dismiss special forces officers who failed to prevent war crimes on their watch.

Under questioning in a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday, the CDF said: “I undertook this. I am the authority to undertake that review.” He said Defence Minister Richard Marles and ultimately the Governor-General had the ability to override his decisions if they were “insufficient or not sufficiently broad”.

General Campbell commanded Australia’s force in the Middle East, known as “Joint Task Force 633”, from January 2011 to January 2012, a posting for which he earned the coveted Distinguished Service Cross.

Greens senator David Shoebridge challenged the CDF over what he called the “very obvious conflict of interest”, accusing him of “marking your own homework”.

General Campbell said he could see why some might have concerns.

“I can see the perception of the conflict of interest,” he said.

“But having read the complete Brereton report, I felt that this could be done by me. And it could then be considered comprehensively by the Deputy Prime Minister.

“Now, there are many other circumstances, having read that report, that I would not think that. But in this particular circumstance, that was the conclusion I drew.”

Senator David Shoebridge during Senate Estimates. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

General Campbell said he did not seek to recuse himself, and he took no legal or probity advice on the matter. Asked why he didn’t ask a senior colleague to oversee the matter, he said: “I think that is a very reasonable idea to propose, senator, but it suffers from the reality that they are all under my command.”

The Brereton war crimes report found “credible information” that Australian soldiers killed 39 Afghan civilians and prisoners during the war. It said there was no evidence that any Task Force 633 commander had any knowledge of the war crimes or was recklessly indifferent.

But, after General Campbell initiated dismissal proceedings against a number of former Afghanistan officers for alleged command failings, he has faced scrutiny over his own DSC.

One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts asked him whether it was “demoralising” to receive a command medal when he was posted in the United Arab Emirates, and whether he would hand it back.

General Campbell said if Senator Roberts was unhappy with the awards process, he could challenge it. “If you regard this (as) not an appropriately awarded decoration, then use the process that exists to see it reconsidered,” he said.

Senator Shoebridge said unless General Campbell’s DSC was withdrawn, there would be a “question mark” over it, and a “conflict of interest over the whole process”.

The exchanges came ahead of a decision later this week on a defamation case brought by Australia’s most decorated soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, against Nine newspapers, over reports accusing him of war crimes.

SAS Association national president Martin Hamilton-Smith said planned administrative action should be shelved until criminal charges were dealt with.