Ben Roberts-Smith, an Australian soldier facing five war crime murder charges, attended a ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra to mark 25 years since Australia’s deployment to Afghanistan. Despite his ongoing legal issues, Roberts-Smith, wearing his medals, was granted permission by the court to attend the event alongside about 600 veterans. The appearance coincides with continued public and political controversy surrounding Roberts-Smith's case, including recent tensions between him and Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Australian War Memorial in Canberra held a ceremony on Sunday to commemorate 25 years since Australia's involvement in Afghanistan began. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, and controversial war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith were among those present. Despite facing five counts of war crime murder, Roberts-Smith attended the event with permission from court under his bail conditions.
Australian forces first deployed to Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Operation Slipper following the September 11 attacks. Over two decades, more than 35,000 Australians served either directly or in support roles in the Middle East region. The ceremony included a wreath-laying and recitation of the Ode of Remembrance, followed by the Last Post and a minute's silence.
Janny Poate spoke about her grief after losing her son Robert, who was killed during the war, highlighting the struggles faced by families left behind. Deployments continued until Australia's withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, shortly before US troops also departed following an agreement with the Taliban.
Written for “Afghanistan Conflict Anniversary” on 2026-10-11,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living soldier and a defendant facing five war crime murder charges, attended the Australian War Memorial in Canberra to mark 25 years since the nation deployed to Afghanistan.
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nation → live → Afghanistan
The Victoria Cross recipient attended Sunday’s ceremony with his partner, Sarah Matulin, after receiving court permission to travel to Canberra under his bail conditions.
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recipient → attend → conditions
Wearing his medals, Roberts-Smith joined about 600 veterans at the service marking the 25th anniversary of Australian service in Afghanistan.
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Smith → wear → Afghanistan
Roberts-Smith was arrested by the Australian Federal Police in April and charged over the alleged killings of five unarmed Afghan men between 2009 and 2012 while serving with the Special Air Service Regiment.
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Smith → arrest → Regiment
He has not entered pleas to the charges and continues to deny any wrongdoing.
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He → enter → wrongdoing
His appearance comes more than three years after he lost his defamation case against Nine newspapers.
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he → come → newspapers
In that civil case, Federal Court Justice Anthony Besanko found on the balance of probabilities that several allegations of Roberts-Smith’s involvement in unlawful killings were substantially true.
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allegations → find → killings
Those civil findings were made under a lower standard of proof than applies in criminal proceedings, and Roberts-Smith has not been convicted of any offence.
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Smith → make → offence
Ben Roberts-Smith (right) and Sarah Matulin (left) attended the event at the War Memorial
Also in attendance was Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie, whose involvement in the Roberts-Smith saga sparked a public clash with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.
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involvement → attend → Hanson
Hastie was compelled to give evidence during Roberts-Smith's 2022 defamation trial against Nine newspapers after raising concerns about conduct within the SAS during Australia's Afghanistan campaign.
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Hastie → compel → campaign
Hanson later targeted Hastie in a political cartoon, calling him a 'traitor' for his role in the proceedings.
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Hanson → target → proceedings
Hastie responded by accusing Hanson of being 'weak' and 'a lying coward', after she denied labelling him as such.
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she → respond → him
Roberts-Smith's partner, Sarah Matulin, also became embroiled in the controversy after she commented 'traitor' on an Anzac Day Instagram post by Hastie, which showed the former SAS officer attending a dawn service with his children.
The remark later drew public attention, prompting Matulin to issue an apology through Roberts-Smith's lawyer, Karen Espiner.
'It was a mistake to make that comment in a public forum and wasn't done with Ben's knowledge,' Matulin said.
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Matulin → comment → knowledge
Roberts-Smith was also seen speaking with Liberal shadow minister for defence industry and defence personnel Phil Thompson during the ceremony.
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Smith → see → ceremony
Andrew Hastie (pictured) was publicly criticised by Roberts-Smith's partner on Instagram
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Hastie → picture → Instagram
Sunday's commemoration marked a quarter of a century since Australia joined the United States and coalition partners in Afghanistan after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
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Australia → mark → attacks
More than 35,000 Australians served in Afghanistan and the broader Middle East Area of Operations over two decades, before Australia's withdrawal in 2021.
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Australians → serve → 2021
Forty-seven Australian Defence Force personnel died during the campaign and 263 were wounded.
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263 → die → campaign
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined Governor-General Sam Mostyn, Defence Minister Richard Marles, Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor and former prime ministers John Howard, Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison at the service.
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Albanese → join → service
Addressing veterans and their families, Albanese reflected on Australia's decision to join the conflict in the wake of September 11.
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Albanese → address → September
'Australia did what is so resolutely in our nature.
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what → do → nature
We went to support our friend and ally.
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We → go → friend
We went because we saw what was at stake,' he said.
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he → go → stake
'We went on the principle that September 11 was an attack on a way of life that belonged just as much to us.'
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that → go → us
Albanese paid tribute to the more than 35,000 Australians who served in Afghanistan over two decades.
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who → pay → decades
Roberts-Smith (left) was seen speaking to Liberal frontbencher Phillip Thompson (right)
'They made an invaluable contribution to a complex multinational mission, upholding the finest of Australian military traditions in the process,' Albanese said.
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Albanese → see → process
Albanese also recognised the sacrifices made by both Australian personnel and Afghan allies.
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Albanese → recognise → personnel
'What shone brightly amid it all was the courage of so many Afghans,' he said.
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he → shine → Afghans
'We honour all who went and all who fell.
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who → honour → all
We honour those who came home, wounded in body or wounded in soul, hearts changed forever by the fight.'
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who → honour → fight
Among those at the service were Warrant Officer (Retd) Mick Enchong and his children, Flight Lieutenant Jason Enchong and Sergeant Tara Enchong, believed to be the first father, son and daughter trio to deploy to an operational area together, having served in Afghanistan on Operation Slipper in 2012.
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Enchong → believe → 2012
The service also highlighted the Australian War Memorial’s new Afghanistan Gallery, which documents Australia’s two decades in the conflict and honours those who served.
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who → highlight → those
The Aporia
