Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

Labor will not be supporting this motion. The findings of the Afghanistan inquiry report of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force that credible information exists in relation to some members of Australian special forces having engaged in unlawful killings and cruel treatment while deployed in Afghanistan are appalling. Yet, as appalling as these findings of credible information are, the report makes clear:

This is not a finding of guilt, nor a finding (to any standard) that the crime has in fact been committed.

It's important that all of us in this place be mindful of those words and avoid utterances that might be seen to be reflecting on matters that could be the subject of future criminal proceedings. I would also emphasise that these allegations concerning a small number of soldiers should not be allowed to overshadow the service of thousands of Australian Defence Force personnel who served in Afghanistan with distinction.