The federal government has allocated $43.8 million in the 2026/27 Budget to the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI), the agency responsible for investigating potential war crimes uncovered by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force's Afghanistan Inquiry.
The funding, which sits within the Attorney-General's portfolio, will support the OSI's ongoing work investigating alleged incidents involving Australian Defence Force personnel in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016.
Investigators are examining claims of serious misconduct, including alleged breaches of the Laws of Armed Conflict, and can refer matters for prosecution where there is sufficient evidence.
The OSI was established following the explosive Brereton Report, which found credible evidence of unlawful killings during Australia's military deployment in Afghanistan and sent shockwaves through the defence community.
Two major criminal cases have so far emerged from the inquiry. Former SAS corporal Ben Roberts-Smith, once celebrated as a Victoria Cross recipient and national hero, became the highest-profile figure linked to the allegations. Roberts-Smith is facing multiple war crime charges and has always denied wrongdoing.
Former SAS soldier Oliver Schulz has also been charged, becoming the first Australian serviceman accused of a war crime following the Brereton findings. Prosecutors allege Schulz murdered an Afghan man during a deployment mission. He has also denied wrongdoing.
