Acting on the findings of the damning Brereton report into alleged Afghanistan war crimes could see medals stripped from those in command positions, the defence minister says.
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Labelling the allegations a "national shame", Richard Marles said he supported the move by Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, to begin contacting senior officers to advise them they may have to hand medals back.
Damaging findings in the Brereton report found some SAS forces who served in Afghanistan had unlawfully killed 39 civilians and prisoners, and treated two people with cruelty, between 2007 and 2013.
Mr Marles was asked by Liberal MP Andrew Hastie - who is a former military officer - if all captains and generals during the period covered by the Brereton report would be subject to the same review.
The former government implemented 101 of the 143 recommendations, Mr Marles saying the review of honours was just one of the remaining 42.
"One of those recommendations called for the review of the awarding of decorations to those in command positions, at troop squadron and task group level during particular special operation task group rotations," he told parliament on Monday.
"What we've seen in the last week or two is the chief of the defence force writing to a small number of people to whom this recommendation concerns ... we completely support (him) in the steps that he has taken."
Mr Marles said the government would implement the recommendations to the "fullest possible extent".
"Australia is dealing with its own issues ... it is a fundamentally important report and one which needs to be treated with the utmost respect," he said.
Australian Associated Press
