Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Brereton report alleges there were 39 murders and two instances of 'cruel treatment' carried out by 25 Australian perpetrators, either as principals or accessories, some of them on a single occasion and a few on multiple occasions,

(ii) some of the alleged victims were adolescents, and

(iii) at least 41 families have likely been impacted by the unlawful actions of Australian special forces soldiers deployed in Afghanistan; and

(b) calls on the Government to:

(i) unreservedly apologise to the families of the victims of Australian war crimes, and

(ii) support the creation of a compensation scheme.

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

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to 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.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that general business notice of motion No. 918, standing in the name of Senator Steele-John, be agreed to.