Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles has announced the revocation of distinguished service medals from fewer than ten senior military officers due to their moral command responsibility during alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, as outlined in the 2020 Brereton Report. The report found credible evidence of unlawful killings involving Australian Defence Force personnel, leading to Marles' decision in line with its recommendations. While the stripped officers are not accused of war crimes themselves, their failure to act on the misconduct of those they commanded has raised questions about accountability within the military hierarchy. Marles described the findings as a 'matter of national shame' but emphasized that the majority of the over 26,000 Australians who served in Afghanistan acted with professionalism. Some veterans' groups have criticized the decision, arguing that it unfairly punishes commanders for the actions of others. The Office of the Special Investigator is also exploring potential prosecutions related to these incidents, which may take years to resolve.