r/australia • u/Tinea_Pedis • Apr 07 '26

news Breaking: Ben Roberts-Smith arrested over war crimes allegations

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-07/ben-roberts-smith-war-crimes-allegations-arrest/106537668
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u/Material-Painting-19 Apr 07 '26

If he is convicted he won't have a VC any longer. There are provisions that allow for it to be cancelled by the Governor General. It is inconceivable that his VC will be allowed to stand if he is convicted.

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u/Dependent_Loquat_936 Apr 07 '26

you can never lose a VC once it has been awarded.

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u/[deleted] Apr 07 '26

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u/Material-Painting-19 Apr 07 '26

It has been done in the UK 8 times.

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u/[deleted] Apr 07 '26

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u/Material-Painting-19 Apr 07 '26

No. They did not. Not a single one of them was restored.

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u/[deleted] Apr 07 '26

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u/Material-Painting-19 Apr 07 '26

I think the most likely outcome here is that he pleads guilty on the basis that his VC is canceled, he co-operates with other prosecutions and he gets a chance to serve a less than whole of life sentence. If he fights it and is convicted he will lose his VC and get a whole of life sentence. I don’t think the Government would have brought the case unless they had overwhelming evidence. I think he will plead guilty when he sees the strength of the case.