Australia strips officers' medals for war crimes culture

Source: BBC

Australia strips officers' medals for war crimes culture

12 September 2024

Tiffanie Turnbull
BBC News, Sydney

Australia has stripped senior defence commanders of military honours over alleged war crimes committed under their watch in Afghanistan.

In parliament on Thursday, Defence Minister Richard Marles said they would lose their distinguished service medals, as recommended by a landmark inquiry which alleged there was an unchecked "warrior culture" within parts of the force.

The Brereton Report, released in 2020, found "credible evidence" that elite Australian soldiers unlawfully killed 39 people during the war in Afghanistan.

“This will always be a matter of national shame,” Mr Marles said.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c87g7gpggjgo