The Australian Defence Department has announced a compensation plan for the families of victims who were unlawfully killed or abused by Australian special forces in Afghanistan. This comes after the 2020 Brereton report revealed that Australian forces were involved in the ‘murder’ of 39 prisoners and civilians in Afghanistan.
During the 20-year period of Australian military involvement in Afghanistan, investigations uncovered war crimes committed by Australian soldiers, including incidents of murder and abuse. The report highlighted a troubling “warrior culture” within the forces, shifting focus from being model soldiers to seeking status and power.
To address these issues, the government is taking steps to compensate the victims’ families and implement recommendations from the Brereton report. The new Afghanistan Inquiry Compensation Advocate will assess claims referred by the Chief of the Defence Force, Admiral David Johnston, based on specific criteria.
In addition to compensation, the Defence Force is working on reforming army culture and command accountability. The Australian government is expected to make further announcements in the coming months regarding the ongoing efforts to address the grave revelations from the Brereton report.
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