Sophie Scamps (Mackellar, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister for Defence. In recent weeks there has been increased scrutiny about alleged war crimes perpetrated by the Australian Defence Force in Afghanistan. In November David McBride will face trial for blowing the whistle about those war crimes. He is a courageous Australian who spoke up about wrongdoing that has horrified our country. Do you agree it is just not right that the first person to face trial for Australia's war crimes in Afghanistan is a whistleblower and not an alleged war criminal?

Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question and appreciate the sincerity with which this is being asked and the seriousness of the matters which she has referred to in her question, about which I have spoken on a number of occasions in this place. The matter that you've referred to, as is apparent in your question, is listed in the courts right now. I'm advised that it is set down for trial, as you've described in your question, for later in the year. So I think in those circumstances it really would be inappropriate for me to make any further comments in this place.