War crimes report: We will respond ‘very seriously’, PM assures Australia, Afghanistan
Scott Morrison has pledged to protect the integrity of the ADF: ‘lessons are learned to ensure that they can’t be repeated’.
- We will respond very seriously: PM
- Allegations ‘horrific, reprehensible’: G-G
- Squadron to reformed, renamed
- Defence chief apologises
- Service medals set to be revoked
- PM reaches out to Afghans
- Dark culture revealed
The years-long report into ‘disturbing’ SAS activities in Afghanistan has recommended investigations be launched into 19 serving and former special forces soldiers over 39 alleged murders committed in Afghanistan.
Live coverage of the dramatic day in Canberra has concluded. Recap the events below in our rolling coverage of the report’s findings and reaction.
Rosie Lewis 6.30pm: ‘Shocking, shameful’ conduct
John Faulkner, a Labor defence minister under Kevin Rudd for 15 months from June 2009, said the Brereton report had exposed “the most shocking and shameful conduct” by special forces soldiers.
After establishing the first regular reports to parliament on the conduct and progress of the war in Afghanistan, including what he believed was full transparency about any operation resulting in a civilian casualty, Mr Faulkner said he found it hard to find the words to describe his reaction to the inquiry.
“It is certainly distressing for me to personally reflect that some of the assurances I sought to give the Australian people and the parliament (about the war in Afghanistan) were false,” Mr Faulkner told The Australian.
“Of course whatever the circumstances, actions like this can never, never be condoned. The perpetrators of course must be held to account.”
Geoff Chambers 5.50pm: We will respond ‘very seriously’ to war crimes claims: PM
Scott Morrison has assured veterans and Australian Defence Force personnel that the government will tackle the “sets of rules and other conditioning factors” associated with alleged misconduct outlined in the Afghanistan Inquiry.
The Prime Minister said where alleged acts took place, it was important that “lessons are learned to ensure that they can’t be repeated”.
“For all those veterans out there, I want to assure you, and serving men and women as well, that this process doesn’t just look at any particular events or acts. But it also looks at the environment and the sets of rules and other conditioning factors that were relevant here,” Mr Morrison told The Kenny Report on Sky News.
Mr Morrison said he had given assurances to the Afghan Government that Australia would respond “very seriously” to allegations outlined in the Inspector-General’s report.
“(The report) will be provided to an office of a special investigator to pursue any matters that must be pursued and can be pursued under our rule of law and that justice is indeed served,” he said.
Mr Morrison said the high esteem of Australia’s Defence forces had been “earned over more than a century”.
“That stands. And firmly. It stands for a number of reasons. The first of which, the obvious great acts of our Defence forces over many, many years.”
“And their selflessness and their service, and the choice that is made by serving men and women to pull on that uniform and to serve their country in the way they do. From that moment on they have earned our respect and their conduct beyond that in the overwhelming majority of the Defence force experience backs that up.”
“Where things don’t measure up to those standards, as a country and indeed as a Defence force we look seriously at those issues, take them seriously and deal with them seriously to uphold those standards and the members of our Defence forces more than any other would expect and want us to do that.”
Mr Morrison said protecting the integrity of the Defence forces and rule of law was critical.
“And to ensure at an international level that we’re a country that deals, even with difficult news, in the most appropriate way and consistent with our values and that’s why I think we can be proud of our Defence forces and all those who have served.”
Rosie Lewis 4.10pm: Those responsible ‘must be brought to justice’: Rudd
Former prime minister Kevin Rudd, who was Australia’s leader for more than two years when alleged war crimes were being committed in Afghanistan by special forces soldiers, has declared those responsible “must be brought to justice”.
The former Labor leader said he was “utterly disgusted” by the findings of the Brereton report, commissioned for Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force James Gaynor, and the detailed findings of alleged “cold-blooded murder by members of our armed forces”.
“These accounts represent flagrant violations of our solemn legal obligations under the Geneva Conventions and the Laws of Armed Conflict, as well as a betrayal of the moral and ethical code that Australians expect their military to advance and defend around the world,” Mr Rudd said.
My statement on today's distressing report by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force into actions by Australian personnel in Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/zSN7qarZAH
— Kevin Rudd (@MrKRudd) November 19, 2020
“Those who are responsible for these crimes, and any efforts to conceal them, must be brought to justice. Behind every unlawful killing is a family grieving for someone they love. The families of those victims must be compensated for their unjust loss. I join the current Prime Minister (Scott Morrison) in his formal apology to the government and people Afghanistan.”
Mr Rudd said it “beggars belief” that alleged war crimes could be repeated after the atrocities witnessed during the Iraq War at Abu Ghraib.
He acknowledged Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell now had an urgent responsibility to reform the culture of special forces units and their command structures.
“I trust the Australian Defence Force leadership will receive whatever political support is needed to align military culture and practices with the expectations of the Australian people, and to mend our country’s reputation,” Mr Rudd said.
“These personnel have gravely and unfairly tarnished the reputation of the Australian Defence Force. This report will be especially distressing for the tens of thousands of Australian women and men in uniform who carry out their duties for our country with utmost professionalism.”
Former prime ministers John Howard, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott have also been approached for comment.
The alleged war crimes occurred between 2007 and 2013, though incidents recommended for prosecution began in 2009.
Rosie Lewis 3.59pm: War crime allegations ‘horrific and reprehensible’: G-G
Governor-General David Hurley, a former chief of the defence force when alleged war crimes were committed by Australian special forces soldiers, has lashed the alleged “atrocities” as “horrific and reprehensible”.
While offering his condolences to the Afghani victims’ families, Mr Hurley said he was deeply disappointed the Australian Defence Force inquiry and investigative processes he commissioned into civilian casualties while he was chief between mid-2011 and mid-2014 had not revealed the alleged offences detailed in the Brereton war crimes report.
Mr Hurley acknowledged a large number of the alleged war crimes, which occurred between 2007 and 2013, were “hidden as combat casualties in operational reports”.
Mr Hurley’s statement in full:
“The alleged atrocities referred to in the IGADF report are horrific, reprehensible and run counter to the ADF’s and Australia’s values. I cannot comment on individual cases, however I hope and believe that the legal process now underway will ensure individual accountability,” Mr Hurley said.
“As the Inspector-General’s report makes clear, unforgivable atrocities are alleged to have been committed by a small number of individuals and deliberately concealed from immediate chains of command. Having served in the ADF for 42 years, I share the pain and anger that must be felt by current and former ADF members.
“As chief of defence force between July 2011 and June 2014, I am deeply disappointed that the ADF inquiry and investigative processes I commissioned into civilian casualties did not reveal the existence of the alleged offences, a large number of which were hidden as combat casualties in operational reports. The IGADF report speaks to this issue.
“The small number of individuals involved does not mitigate the damage done, or lessen the pall that this casts, but it is also important to note that these incidents do not diminish the distinguished, honourable service of the vast majority of the thousands of ADF personnel who served in Afghanistan. My thoughts are with those outstanding men and women, their families and loved ones and I urge them to continue to be proud of their service, the role they played and the professionalism that they demonstrated.
“Similarly, I offer my deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims.
“I am confident that the steps being taken by the ADF in regards to internal culture and process will bring healing to the ADF and, through that, to the Australian public.”
Ben Packham 3.00pm: Inquiry set to shake the foundations of defence
ANALYSIS
Justice Paul Brereton’s report on alleged war crimes by Australian forces in Afghanistan reveals sickening and immoral conduct by the nation’s most revered, well-trained soldiers.
His findings are staggering in their gravity, scope and seriousness, and will echo for years to come.
He finds credible evidence that 25 Australian serving and former special forces soldiers committed war crimes, resulting in the unlawful deaths of 39 Afghan civilians or prisoners.
His report will shake the foundations of the Australian Defence Force for years, and reverberate for generations to come.
In shocking details, he found credible evidence to confirm more senior soldiers ordered newly-arrived troopers to execute prisoners in horrifying “blooding” rituals.
One incident mentioned, but not described, is said to be “possibly the most disgraceful episode in Australia’s military history”.
Read the full story here.
Rosie Lewis 2.46pm: Chain of command must share responsibility: Fitzgibbon
Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon, a defence minister for 1.5 years during the first Rudd government, says the special forces soldiers involved in shocking alleged war crimes will “rightly pay a significant price for their actions”.
But Mr Fitzgibbon said everyone up the chain of command to cabinet’s national security committee must share responsibility for the bad culture that has been intensely scrutinised by the inspector-general of the Australian Defence Force.
“Many of the findings are shocking and those involved will obviously and rightly pay a significant price for their actions,” Mr Fitzgibbon told The Australian.
“But one of the objectives of the significant remedial work ahead must be the protection of the reputation of the regiment and the overwhelming majority of our special forces soldiers who have done no more than put their lives on the line for our country and in some cases, paid the ultimate price for their courage and commitment.
“While unlawful action can never be excused or justified, many of our special forces soldiers became victims of a bad culture no doubt driven in part by long and too frequent deployment rotations, vague mission objectives, the challenges of fighting an enemy playing to no rules, the frustrations of prisoner capture and release, and an awareness of the poor prospects of overall strategic success. We must all take our share of responsibility for that, all the way up the chain of command and into the national security committee of the cabinet.”
Mr Fitzgibbon was defence minister from December 2007 to June 2009. The illegal conduct of SAS soldiers occurred between 2007 and 2013, according to the Brereton report.
Richard Ferguson 1.39pm: ‘Grave failings’ found in report: Defence Minister
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds says the Brereton war crimes inquiry has unveiled “grave failings” in the Australian Defence Forces and accountability will be the ADF’s primary focus.
Chief of the Defence Forces Angus Campbell has unreservedly apologised for 39 alleged unlawful killings of Afghan prisoners and citizens, with 25 Australian defence personnel allegedly implicated.
Senator Reynolds said in a statement the ADF will reinstate the highest standards in the forces after the revelations.
“The Afghanistan Inquiry report contains findings and recommendations about a range of very serious matters that the Chief of the Defence Force must now comprehensively respond to,” he said on Thursday.
“Accountability will be the cornerstone of Defence’s response to the Inquiry report. This is crucial to maintaining the highest standards Australians expect of our military, reassuring confidence and trust, and learning from grave failings.
“I remain proud of the men and women of the ADF who have served our nation on operations at home and around the world, and have done so with distinction.
“The findings announced by the Chief of the Defence Force today should not cast a shadow on the vast majority whose contributions to the mission in Afghanistan were carried out to the highest standards demanded of them.”
Geoff Chambers 1.20pm: ‘Disturbing’: Army chief responds to inquiry
Chief of Army Rick Burr has described the findings of the Afghanistan Inquiry as “disturbing and extremely serious” and called on Australian Defence Force personnel to repair trust and support “cultural renewal”.
Lieutenant General Burr, who led the Special Air Service Regiment between 2003 and 2004, said he was “deeply concerned that some people did not feel empowered or safe to speak up sooner when they saw or knew of misconduct”.
The army chief, who has been tasked with leading the ADF cultural shake-up, said the inquiry findings were not “easy to read or hear”.
“As the Chief of Army and a Special Forces officer, I have questioned why did this happen? What could have been done to prevent this? And how do we ensure this does not happen again? Anywhere in our Army,” Lt-Gen Burr said.
“Some of our people strayed from our values by not operating lawfully, ethically or responsibly. These individuals will be held to account.”
Read the full story here.
1.03pm: ‘Misguided warrior culture’: ADF head’s full statement
Angus Campbell says none of the alleged unlawful killings were described as being in the ‘heat of battle’. Read his full statement here.
Richard Ferguson 12.30pm: Labor responds to inquiry
Labor says the Brereton war crimes inquiry revelations are “difficult” for the nation and there is now evidence some Australian defence personnel behaved unlawfully and unconscionably.
In a joint statement, opposition defence spokesman Richard Marles and opposition legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus said they now trusted the Australian justice system to hold all those implicated in alleged war crimes to account.
“This report makes difficult reading. It states that credible evidence exists that members of our most elite armed forces behaved unlawfully, unconscionably and committed war crimes as defined by the Australian criminal justice system,” the pair said in a statement.
“These allegations in respect of a few do not detract from the sacrifice of the many who have served our country, and in particular the thousands of current and former soldiers who served in Afghanistan.
“It is important the government accepts all recommendations made by Major General Paul Brereton. Major General Brereton has demonstrated the utmost integrity in handling this difficult task and we thank him for his work.
“Today also demonstrates that we should have faith in the Australian justice system. Where allegations of bad conduct are made, they are properly investigated, and the findings acted on.
“The confronting honesty of the IGADF report highlights that Australia is a country that respects the Geneva Conventions, human rights, and the rule of law, and that no one is exempt from those laws.”
Richard Ferguson 11.55am: SAS squadron to be reformed, renamed
The SAS’s second squadron will be struck off the Army’s order of battle and reformed under a new name, following the revelations of 39 unlawful killings in the Brereton war crimes inquiry.
Chief of the Defence Forces Angus Campbell said in Canberra that the forces will experience significant operational and organisational changes as a result of the report.
“A short while ago, the Chief of the Army (Rick Burr) advised the Special Air Service Regiment that the second Special Air Service squadron would be struck off the Army order of battle,” he said.
“Not because it was the only squadron involved in these issues, but because it was at a time one of the squadrons as involved in the allegations made, and there will be a permanent record by striking that squadron title from the Army order of battle of this period.
“The Chief of the Army will work over time to adjust and then re-raise a different squadron, titled differently.”
Richard Ferguson 11.45am: Serving officers to be investigated
A number of Australian defence personnel linked to 39 alleged unlawful killings of Afghan prisoners and civilians are still serving in the Defence Force currently.
There are 19 personnel accused of murder in the Brereton war crimes inquiry, among 25 personnel allegedly linked to the killings.
Chief of the Defence Forces Angus Campbell said in Canberra that Chief of the Army Rick Burr will assess whether currently serving individuals linked to the inquiry will continue in their roles.
“They are (still serving). Some of them continue to serve in different forms of service within the Defence Force,” General Campbell said on Thursday.
“I have directed the Chief of Army to on a case-by-case basis review the circumstance and nature of that service. He will be doing that immediately.”
Richard Ferguson 11.30am: General ‘shocked’ by revelations
Chief of the Defence Forces Angus Campbell says he is shocked by the full revelations of the Brereton war crimes inquiry, saying he did not expect the breadth of alleged unlawful killings.
“When the rumours were first raised with me late in 2015, I had the sense that there was something here,” General Campbell said on Thursday.
“But I never expected to read some of the material that I have reviewed over the last two weeks.
“Of allegations with regard to behaviour of modern, professional, Australian military personnel. The special operations capability is an incredible national asset but part of it has, by allegation, performed in a way of grave concern to us.”
Richard Ferguson 11.25am: Service medals set to be revoked
SAS servicemen who served in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2013 face having their meritorious unit citations and medals revoked after the release of the Brereton war crimes inquiry.
Chief of the Defence Forces Angus Campbell will write to Governor General David Hurley – himself a former defence forces chief – to consider revoking the citations and will launch a review into military awards.
The Brereton inquiry has found 23 separate incidents of alleged unlawful killings involving the deaths of 39 Afghan prisoners, farmers and civilians.
There are 25 Australian defence personnel allegedly involved in the incidents.
“I will review … (and advise) the Governor-General, with regard to the honours and awards received by a range of offices both in Australia and Afghanistan
“With this in mind, I have accepted the Inspector General’s recommendation and will write to the Governor-General, requesting he revoke the meritorious unit citation for special operations task group who served in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2013.”
Richard Ferguson 11.15am: 39 incidents of alleged unlawful killings
Chief of the Defence Forces Angus Campbell says the Brereton war crimes inquiry has uncovered 39 alleged unlawful killings of Afghan prisoners, farmers and civilians.
General Campbell said in Canberra that the 39 people were killed in 23 separate incidents and 25 Australian defence personnel are allegedly involved.
Some of the alleged killings involved recently arrived Australian soldiers being coerced into killing prisoners as an initiation ritual into the squad.
“It is alleged that some patrols took the law into their own hands, rules were broken, stories conducted, lies told and prisoners killed,” General Campbell said in Canberra.
“And once that rule was broken, so to, for some, was any further restraint.
“Those who wish to speak up were allegedly discouraged, intimidated and discredited.
“Those alleged to have been unlawfully killed include the people under control – in lay terms prisoners, farmers or other civilians.
“This shameful record includes alleged instances in which new patrol members would shoot a prisoner, in order to achieve that soldiers first kill in an appalling practice known as blooding.”
Richard Ferguson 11.10am: Inquiry finds unlawful killings
Chief of the Defence Forces Angus Campbell has “unreservedly apologised” to the Afghan and Australian people for alleged war crimes perpetrated against innocent Afghans, saying the Brereton war crimes inquiry has uncovered the most serious breaches and unlawful killings.
The Brereton report has found a series of unlawful killings occurred outside of the heat of battle and a toxic “warrior culture” had developed within the ranks of ADF servicemen in Afghanistan.
General Campbell said on Thursday that the actions uncovered in the inquiry had broken the trust the Afghan people had placed in Australian forces.
“It would have devastated the lives of Afghan families and communities, causing immeasurable pain and suffering,” he said.
“And it would have put in jeopardy our mission and the safety of our Afghan and coalition partners.
“And to the people of Australia, I am sincerely sorry for any wrongdoing by members of the Australian Defence Force.”
Staff Reporters 11am: Defence Force chief issues statement
General Angus Campbell, speaking ahead of the release of the findings of the Afghanistan inquiry from the Inspector-General of the ADF, has issued an apology to the people of Afghanistan and Australia.
“I sincerely and unreservedly apologise for any wrongdoing by Australian soldiers, and apologises to Australian public over war crimes,” General Campbell says.
Richard Ferguson 10am: PM reaches out to Afghans on Brereton
Scott Morrison has told Afghanistan’s president Ashraf Ghani any allegations of war crimes by Australian servicemen in his country would be taken seriously and dealt with by the law, with a years-long report into “disturbing” SAS activities in Afghanistan set to be released.
The Brereton war crimes report will be released on Thursday and will cover alleged war crimes in Afghanistan over more than a decade, with the Western Australia-based Special Air Service Regiment due to come under particular scrutiny.
The Australian understands the Prime Minister called Mr Ghani on Wednesday night and told him the contents of the Brereton Report would be disturbing.
Mr Ghani said in return that he appreciated Mr Morrison’s direct contact and said he was counting on the Australian justice system to pursue all allegations.
Mr Morrison said on Thursday that the report would not dilute the respect the nation has for the Defence Forces and that many inside the forces were the biggest backers of cultural change.
“Many special forces ex-service people have expressed their concerns about this, and how it doesn’t reflect the broader culture or broader reputation of the ADF, I would agree with that,” Mr Morrison told the Seven Network.
“It is important we respect our veterans, and be there for them and we will be ensuring that is the case.
“But also, we will have to take this very seriously because we have to hold our standards. “Our defence forces above all would want to do that … we will deal with that here and do it with respect for our veterans and the justice system as well.”
A new special investigator will be appointed to prosecute Australian soldiers for alleged war crimes, as Defence faces unprecedented pressure to address leadership failings that allowed elite soldiers to commit murder on deployment in Afghanistan.
Defence bases and Australian personnel overseas have been put on alert ahead of the release of a redacted version of the Brereton report by the Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell on Thursday. Defence welfare organisations are also on standby, believing the findings could trigger fresh trauma for veterans and serving personnel.
Ben Packham 9.30am: Defence’s darkest secrets to shed light on a debased culture
When Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell stands up in Canberra on Thursday to release the public version of the Brereton war crimes report, he will air Defence’s darkest secrets, which have festered for more than a decade.
The report will allege terrible acts were committed; that civilians and unarmed prisoners were callously murdered; that weapons were planted on bodies; that detainees were bashed and tortured.
Some of Australia’s most highly trained and decorated soldiers — selected for their ability to deliver lethal but precisely controlled force — will be accused of abandoning their moral code in the mountains and fields of Afghanistan as they raced to chalk up more kills than rival units.
Defence insiders say the cultural problems in the Western Australia-based Special Air Service Regiment, which will bear the brunt of the Brereton inquiry’s findings, were a long time in the making.
Major General Jeff Sengelman was confronted by the cultural problems he discovered at Perth’s Campbell Barracks when he visited in early 2015 as the nation’s newly appointed special operations commander.
Guns and ammunition were unaccounted for. Soldiers were socialising with bikies and bad-boy footballers. Strippers were tolerated at on-base parties by high-ranked non-commissioned officers, battle-hardened corporals and sergeants had so much swagger they made it clear to officers who ran the regiment.
Read the full story here.
Ben Packham 9.00am: Conflict questions on Defence war crime troika
The head of the nation’s special forces, Major General Adam Findlay, has been appointed to a special role advising Chief of Army Rick Burr on how to implement the recommendations of the Brereton war crimes inquiry.
The appointment, which he will take up in January, confirms Defence’s response to the inquiry — including “cultural, organisational and leadership” changes flagged by Scott Morrison — will be led from within Lieutenant General Burr’s office.
General Findlay, a beret-qualified Special Air Service officer and former troop commander, is highly regarded within Defence and was appointed as Special Operations Commander Australia in June 2017 — well after the Brereton inquiry got under way.
A former colleague said he was “the outsider you have when you’re not having an outsider”.
However, some former Special Air Service Regiment members, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the issue, said General Findlay, General Burr and Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell had conflicts of interest when it came to implementing the Brereton inquiry’s findings.
Read the full story here.
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