Afghanistan Inquiry Compensation Scheme advocate appointment
ED: Why is compensation being considered without waiting for the establishment of criminal liability? Shouldn’t this process ensure accountability and prevent potential misuse of funds while preserving the presumption of innocence?
Media Release
The Albanese Government has appointed the Hon Justice Ruth McColl AO as the Afghanistan Inquiry Compensation Advocate.
The Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force Afghanistan Inquiry report contained 15 recommendations to pay compensation to victims, and their families, where there was credible information involving allegations of property damage, assault or unlawful killing, by ADF members on operations in Afghanistan during the period 2005-2016, without awaiting the establishment of criminal liability.
In response, the Government directed Defence to design a compensation scheme under regulation, which came into effect on 19 July 2024.
Justice McColl comes to the role following a distinguished career in the legal profession and sustained commitment to the service of the law and to the judiciary. Her Honour is independent of Defence and will review claims for compensation referred by the Chief of the Defence Force and make recommendations on the payment of compensation under the criteria set out in the regulation.
Compensation provided under the Afghanistan Inquiry Compensation Scheme may include monetary or non-monetary compensation.
Defence has launched a dedicated webpage for the Afghanistan Inquiry Compensation Scheme which provides information and a submission point for applications. The information will be available in both Pashtu and Dari.
This webpage is accessible here: https://www.defence.gov.au/about/complaints-incident-reporting/afghanistan-inquiry-compensation-scheme
Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP:
“The appointment of the Hon Justice Ruth McColl as the Afghanistan Inquiry Compensation Scheme Advocate is another important step as we hold ourselves to account for the circumstances outlined in the Brereton Report.
“Establishing a transparent process for compensation claims respects all those affected by these events. This scheme reflects the Albanese Government’s resolve to support those who have been impacted by the actions of certain Australian Defence Force members during operations in Afghanistan.
“We again acknowledge the service of all those who served in Afghanistan with professionalism and integrity, the 41 Australians who died on operations, those wounded in service and their families.”
The whole idea of paying compensation to Afgan civilians is, in my humble opinion, an absolute nonsense. In a war, shit happens.
Assuming the Australian government and Defence Force continue with this nonsense, I would hope that the first recipients of compensation are the families of the three Australian soldiers murdered by their Afgan colleague while off duty.
This is a load of garbage thought up by the Labor government. How will they verify any so called applications for compensation. Of course the Taliban would tell the truth.
Hopefully this is another nail in the coffin of those who think this is honestly the right thing to do. Wake up silent majority.
Bloody marvellous, our Government has found another way to spend our dollars to buy what?
I would think that many Afghan War veterans would be disgusted at the way Marles, on one hand announces this scheme while, on the other, does nothing to speed up justice for the those accused in the Brereton Report and, at the same time, thanks the rest for their service.
Well worded, LTCOL. I concur with your comments, our government pledged our ADF to a war. Our ADF were put into a position and situation’s where they were required to kill or be killed. Now, we’ve got a weak arsed government that wants to now pay compensation, like WTF!!!
How about the government, instead of throwing money into Afghanistan, again, throw that money at veterans and their deserved compensation.
OUT…….