Ben Roberts-Smith's bail variation for war memorial event and war crimes allegations
Consensus Summary
Ben Roberts-Smith, a former SAS soldier and Victoria Cross recipient, had his bail conditions varied on June 16, 2026, to attend the opening of the Anzac Atrium at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on June 23. Roberts-Smith faces five counts of war crime murder related to alleged killings of unarmed Afghan nationals during deployments in 2009 and 2012. His attendance at the war memorial event was permitted as part of standard practice for inviting living Victoria Cross recipients, though concerns were raised about potential inadvertent breaches of bail conditions related to witness contact. Judge Susan Horan approved the variation for the war memorial event but denied requests for Roberts-Smith to attend a military graduation parade and associated social gathering in Singleton and Newcastle due to risks of interacting with witnesses, including Oliver Schulz, another alleged war criminal. Roberts-Smith has denied the allegations and plans to clear his name in court. The Australian War Memorial's new gallery, titled 'Was It Worth It?', explores Australia's 20-year involvement in Afghanistan, featuring exhibits like military vehicles, artworks, and personal stories from veterans. The gallery aims to present a comprehensive view of the conflict, including its causes, conduct, and consequences.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Ben Roberts-Smith's bail conditions were varied on June 16, 2026, to allow him to attend the opening of the Anzac Atrium at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on June 23, 2026.
- Roberts-Smith faces five counts of war crime murder related to deployments in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2012, involving alleged killings of unarmed Afghan nationals.
- Roberts-Smith is a Victoria Cross recipient and was invited to the war memorial event as part of standard practice for living recipients.
- Judge Susan Horan granted the bail variation for the war memorial event but denied requests for attendance at a military graduation parade and associated social gathering in Singleton and Newcastle due to concerns about witness contact.
- Roberts-Smith has categorically denied the allegations and stated he plans to clear his name in court.
- The Australian War Memorial's new gallery, titled 'Was It Worth It?', focuses on Australia's 20-year involvement in Afghanistan and includes exhibits like a Bushmaster military vehicle, embroidered handkerchiefs, and artworks by Ben Quilty.
- Roberts-Smith was arrested in April 2026 and released on bail with a $250,000 surety paid by his father, Len Roberts-Smith.
- The court heard concerns about Roberts-Smith inadvertently breaching bail conditions related to contact with potential Crown witnesses, subject to a suppression order.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The Australian War Memorial's $550 million redevelopment includes the new gallery space dedicated to Afghanistan.
- Researcher Farkhondeh Akbari, a cultural advisor for the war memorial, noted improvements in gender equality and healthcare access in Oruzgan province due to Australian involvement.
- A labrador named Sarbi, who served in Afghanistan, is preserved in taxidermy and featured in the exhibition; she was miraculously reunited with her handler after a Taliban ambush in 2008.
- Warrant Officer Class One Damien Woolfe, an Army veteran, described the exhibition as 'true to life' and emotionally evocative, bringing back memories of his service.
- The exhibition includes handkerchiefs partly embroidered by Australians and completed by Afghan artists.
- The title 'Was It Worth It?' was inspired by questions soldiers asked themselves during the conflict.
- Roberts-Smith was barred from discussing the criminal cases against himself or Oliver Schulz, another alleged war criminal, at the war memorial event.
- Roberts-Smith applied to move his home address in south-east Queensland to be closer to family, citing his parents had sold their home and he needed to relocate.
- Roberts-Smith allegedly machine-gunned Afghan prisoner Mohammed Essa and ordered the execution of his son Ahmadullah in 2009, placing firearms on their bodies to falsify their status as enemy combatants.
- In 2012, Roberts-Smith is accused of kicking a handcuffed man named Ali Jan off a 10-meter cliff before ordering his execution, and of ordering the shooting of another prisoner in a cornfield followed by a grenade attack on the bodies.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states Roberts-Smith was barred from discussing the criminal cases against himself or Oliver Schulz at the war memorial event, while ABC does not mention this specific restriction.
- ABC describes the military graduation event as a 'march out' parade livestreamed and attended by family and friends, while the Guardian refers to it as a parade and afterparty with an uncontrolled social function involving alcohol.
Source Articles
Ben Roberts-Smith's bail conditions varied to attend war memorial event
War veteran Ben Roberts-Smith's bail conditions have been varied so he can attend an opening at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra next week.
Invitation to Ben Roberts-Smith was 'standard practice', war memorial director says
Australian War Memorial director Matt Anderson is asked about an invitation issued to Ben Roberts-Smith, who has been accused of war crimes, to the upcoming opening of a new gallery space dedicated to Australia's service in Afghanistan.
Ben Roberts-Smith’s bail varied so alleged war criminal can attend Australian War Memorial opening
Former SAS soldier had been invited along with all other living Victoria Cross recipients, judge told Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has successfully varied his bail to attend the opening of the Anzac Hall at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. However he has not been allowed to go to a military graduation parade and afterparty north of Sydney due to concerns he might interact with another alleged war criminal, Oliver Schulz