The significant funding injection for Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) comes in the wake of the Brereton Inquiry and its investigation of alleged serious criminal misconduct by Australian Defence Force personnel in the Middle East. Mr. Roberts-Smith, a decorated former SAS soldier, faces charges of unlawful killings in Afghanistan.
The Albanese government has been forced to allocate an additional $44 million to the Office of the Special Investigator ahead of the high-profile Ben Roberts-Smith trial.
The Albanese government has allocated an additional $44.3 million to the Office of the Special Investigator in the 2026-27 federal budget. The major funding injection comes as decorated former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith faces a criminal trial over allegations of unlawful killings in Afghanistan. Established in the wake of the landmark Brereton Inquiry, the OSI was created to investigate allegations of serious criminal misconduct by Australian Defence Force personnel during operations in the Middle East.
The specialist agency works alongside the Australian Federal Police to examine alleged breaches of the Laws of Armed Conflict, including potential war crimes. Budget papers state the OSI’s investigations into the activities of ADF personnel “are being undertaken and are progressing”. The Albanese government has allocated an additional $44.3 million to the Office of the Special Investigator in the 2026-27 federal budget.
The allocation of funding lands as Mr Roberts-Smith fights five counts of war crime murder over the alleged killings of unarmed Afghan civilians between 2009 and 2012. Mr Roberts-Smith has consistently denied the allegations and said he hopes to “finally” clear his name after the criminal trial.
After being hailed as a national hero for actions during six tours to Afghanistan from 2006 to 2012, he was accused of five counts of the war crime of murder.his victims were “not taking part in hostilities at the time of their alleged murder” and were “detained, unarmed and under the control” of Australian forces. Mr Roberts-Smith unsuccessfully challenged reports of the war crimes, which were published by Nine Entertainment newspapers.
The Victoria Cross, the nation’s highest and most prestigious military honour, was given to Mr Roberts-Smith for valour in the face of the enemy during the Afghanistan War. In a recent Sky News Pulse / YouGov poll, 44 per cent of respondents believed Mr Roberts-Smith should not lose the VC even if he is convicted. Thirty-eight per cent of voters said Mr Roberts-Smith should be stripped of the medal if found guilty, while a further 18 per cent were undecided.
Albanese Government OSI Office Of The Special Investigator Ben Roberts-Smith War Crime Murder Undetermined Allegations Of Serious Criminal Misconduct Australia
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