Sky News host Catherine McGregor says "the lack of understanding of the ground reality of Afghanistan is astounding" as the fallout from the Brereton Report continues.
Ms McGregor said the process is punishing defence personnel even if they haven't actually been convicted or charged with war crimes.
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Defence Minister Peter Dutton says there are no plans for Australian troops to return to Afghanistan By political reporter Matthew Doran
Australian troops will not return to Afghanistan, even if the nation s security deteriorates in the coming years, according to new Defence Minister Peter Dutton.
This year s Anzac Day commemorations will be the last marked with Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel deployed in Afghanistan.
Of the more than 39,000 Australian troops who have served in the country over the past two decades, only 80 remain there.
The decision has sparked fresh concerns about the stability of the country, with violence across Afghanistan escalating and peace talks with the Taliban having stalled.
Defence is always one of the Australian government’s busiest and most powerful portfolios. Now, as Peter Dutton takes the helm, this is no exception, and he will have much work to do.
Challenges abound, both within Australia and in the region. Tensions continue to rise in the Indo-Pacific, and speculation persists about potential conflict with China over Taiwan. There are also warnings the impacts of climate change could “overwhelm” the defence force.
In addition, defence, often a portfolio that gets only sporadic attention from the public, is front and centre of much political debate at the moment. From bushfire assistance and the COVID-19 pandemic response, to the Brereton Report and twerking at ship launches, defence is never far from the news. As such, Dutton faces a series of major risks as he takes on the portfolio – but also opportunities.
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The Inspector-General of the Australian Defense Force Afghanistan (IGADF) Inquiry Report, commonly known as the Brereton Report, released in November 2020, detailed how Australian special forces in Afghanistan had committed at least 39 illegal killings.
The report’s findings, while not a surprise to most Afghans, shook Australia’s defense community and the government, and further diminished Australia’s role in the region. The report, while redacted, detailed how the killings were the result of “criminal behaviour” that was “commenced, committed, continued and concealed at the patrol commander level.”
The Inspector-General concluded that it is “the most disgraceful episode in Australia’s military history.”