‘Open war crimes report to public’, says Labor

Labor has called for the contents of the Brereton report into war crime allegations be made public ‘where possible’.

Greg Brown and ANTON NILSSON

On the report, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says, ‘we will have more to say about that over the course of the next week’. Picture: Getty Images

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6:20PMNovember 08, 2020.

Updated 6:37PMNovember 08, 2020

Labor has called for the contents of the Brereton report into war crime allegations be made public “where possible” after the findings into the investigation on Australian troops in Afghanistan was handed to Defence Force chief Angus Campbell.

A spokeswoman for opposition defence spokesman Richard Marles said Labor expected the government would ensure the public was made aware of the inquiry’s findings.

“We have long said, where possible, the government must ensure details of the report are made public in order to ensure transparency and accountability, and that justice is seen to be done,” the spokeswoman said.

General Campbell last week received the report from the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force, who was tasked in 2016 with investigating dozens of incidents, including alleged unlawful killings in Afghanistan from 2005. Hundreds of witnesses have been interviewed during the inquiry, which has been conducted by a small team of military officers.

Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell during estimates in Parliament House, Canberra, Onctober 27. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

General Campbell briefed Defence Minister Linda Reynolds on the details of the report on Friday. Scott Morrison said on the weekend the investigation as a “very serious issue”.

“The government will be taking it very seriously and we will be abiding by all the proper legal and institutional processes that are appropriate,” the Prime Minister said. “And we will have more to say about that over the course of the next week.”

Mr Morrison said it was important the government “run a process here that respects the integrity of our defence forces”.

The Defence inspector-general confirmed in its most recent annual report that at least 55 separate incidents involving alleged law breaches during the war have been examined.