ABC report on alleged war crimes behind investigation

A complaint about an October 2020 story on war crimes allegations has been received from a member of November Platoon and is being investigated by the ABC’s Audience & Consumer Affairs unit.

“US marine says Australian special forces soldiers made ‘deliberate decision to break the rules of war’” was reported by ABC Investigations reporter Mark Willacy with Alexandra Blucher and Dan Oakes. Their stories were awarded last month by the Queensland Clarion Awards.

The Department of Defence has confirmed there is an active criminal investigation into the conduct of the 2nd Commando Regiment’s November Platoon in Afghanistan in 2012.

Given this investigation, Defence says it cannot release documents and other material about November Platoon to the ABC under Freedom of Information.

In a statement, ABC said, “Mark Willacy has committed more than two years to comprehensively researching and investigating stories about allegations of serious misconduct by Australian special forces in Afghanistan, including the findings of the Brereton Report, which found evidence of 39 unlawful killings of prisoners and civilians by, or at the instruction of, members of the Australian special forces, most notably the SAS.

“Willacy is one of Australia’s best and most highly-awarded journalists. The issues investigated in his reporting are highly newsworthy and represent matters of public interest worthy of examination.

“How Australian forces conduct themselves in our name overseas is of concern to all Australians.

“Willacy’s reporting has been based on concerns raised from within the ranks of the elite unit by serving and former members, SAS operators, support staff and intelligence officers.”

ABC’s complaints handling process is itself the subject of an independent review and upcoming senate investigation.