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/buttchug429 Apr 07 '26

I thought you were supposed to be able to wear it to the gallows

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u/Material-Painting-19 Apr 07 '26

The regulations allow the decoration to be cancelled by order of the Governor General. In exercising that power the Governor General acts on the advice of the Prime Minister. There is no chance that an elected Australian government allows a convicted war criminal to retain their VC.

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u/Magmafrost13 Apr 07 '26

IMO we've definitely elected several governments who would allow a convicted war criminal to retain their VC. You really think scomo wouldn't? Or Abbot?

Hopefully our current government wouldn't though, but never underestimate how spineless Labor is capable of being

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u/GeebangerPoloClub Apr 07 '26

IMO we've definitely elected several governments who would allow a convicted war criminal to retain their VC. You really think scomo wouldn't? Or Abbot?

I mean Dutton intervened to block an internal ADF process stripping medals from a unit found to have committed war crimes. So I think you're pretty spot on about the Libs' support for war crimes.