Alison Penfold (Lyne, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The legacy of the SAS in Afghanistan is one of bravery and sacrifice—of individual men putting their lives on the line to serve this country. Yet, for many of these soldiers, their sacrifice has been met with betrayal, as they've been subjected to official inquiries and allegations of war crimes led by the Office of the Special Investigator.

Established five years ago, the Office of the Special Investigator has been responsible for building cases against 19 SAS veterans recommended by Judge Brereton to face prosecution for allegations of war crimes. Over $300 million has been spent by the OSI to date, yet only one person has been charged, and no-one has been convicted. With its substantial budget and staff of around 160, it's beyond belief that only one person has been charged in the past four years.

I'm not alone when I ask, 'What is taking so long?' This significant expenditure raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the OSI and concerns about the undue strain that soldiers and their families have been under. It is a sad reality that our war veterans are prosecuted by a bureaucracy that enjoys the freedom and safety secured by the very soldiers they pursue, but it is simply shameful that those soldiers are being subjected to so much anguish and uncertainty as these prosecutions and investigations languish on for years without resolution.

To the Office of the Special Investigator: you have the budget, and you have the personnel. Why are you subjecting our war veterans to this turmoil? If evidence exists, lay charges. If there is no evidence, terminate the investigation. Otherwise, this is nothing short of a witch-hunt. I strenuously oppose these belated attempts to prosecute war veterans. These men answered their country's call. They followed orders. They were working in a war zone, and in a war zone opposing Taliban zealots who had no rules of engagement, no respect for life and no regard for our soldiers, routinely engaging in tactics of torture and execution.

The people who promote this investigation seem to forget that bit. War is war. It is brutal. Mistakes are made. But that is the nature of war. What kind of message does this send to our next generation of soldiers—that, after having put life and limb on the line for your country and its citizenry, some of those citizens, some do-gooder, will track you down and set the media upon you, that your sacrifice will be twisted into suspicion and scandal and held against you, and that allegations may follow you for years? That is not what soldiers sign up for. It's unimaginable not to make a mistake in a war. Some Australian forces may have made mistakes in Afghanistan, but that does not mean what they did was unjust at the time, nor does it mean that justice is required, as some people in politics, law and the media think it must.

There is a grey line about applying the lofty principles of law in the extremes of war, and there is an even bigger grey line about applying those principles to the men and women who were subjected to those extremes of war and have to live with it. I call on the federal government to bring the investigation to a conclusion and to finalise the work of the Office of the Special Investigator. I ask people to watch Channel 7 at 9 pm on 26 April. It is airing Bravery & Betrayal, a documentary about this whole sorry saga.

I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Gordon 'Griffo' Griffis, who tragically passed away on Sunday 15 February. As Nabiac's long-time butcher and owner of Griffo's Meats, Griffo was a stalwart of Nabiac, Krambach and the surrounding community. Loved by all who knew him, his sudden passing has left an entire community in shock, completely devastated at the loss of this warm, happy and kind man. To quote his family: 'Griffo was a true legend in every sense of the word. If you were lucky enough to be his mate, you were one of the lucky ones, because his friendship was loyal, generous and full of laughter.'

I extend my sincere condolences to Narelle, Tracy, Chad, Judi, Jackson, Savanna, Bella and all his extended family. Whilst nothing can ease your pain and loss, I hope that you take comfort in the immense outpouring and the countless tributes that have flowed from the community. They are a testament to Griffo's character and the genuine warmth and affection in which he was held by so many. Though he is gone, his memory will live on in our hearts for a very long time. Griffo loved a drink, a good joke, his beloved Manly Sea Eagles and the Griffo's Meats community.