Doorstop Interview, Parliament House

RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Let me start by just saying how significant Senator Lambie’s advocacy on behalf of our veterans’ community has been and that our Government holds this in the highest regard. In relation to the current matter, I will be meeting Senator Lambie tomorrow. But I do want to make a couple of points very clear. Justice Brereton’s report is an extraordinary document and it reflects an incredibly important piece of work on behalf of our nation, given the appalling nature of the allegations which are contained within his report. And the service which Justice Brereton has done for our country is that he has given us an opportunity to deal with this, and our Government intends to do that.

From the moment that we were elected we made clear that we will seek to implement the recommendations of the Brereton Report to the fullest possible extent. Under the Albanese Government, Australia is holding itself to account. The Chief of the Defence Force has been pursuing a process in respect of command accountability, consistent with the recommendations of the Brereton Report. And from the very first days of our Government, he has done that with our full support. That process, in turn, has led to a number of recommendations which now sit on my desk. And I am seeking the appropriate advice in respect of those recommendations and will act on them in due course.

The allegations which are at the heart of this are very serious and very grave. But through the recommendations of the Brereton Report, our Government will ensure that we make this right.

JOURNALIST: Are senior members of the Australian military getting off scot-free in a “cover up”, as Jacqui Lambie asserts?

MARLES: A key recommendation of the Brereton Report was around command accountability, the accountability of commanders. And that's why the Chief of the Defence Force has been pursuing the process that he has, which has led to the recommendations which, as I've said, are now sitting upon my desk. And I will be seeking the appropriate advice in order to act on those recommendations, which I will do in due course.

JOURNALIST: Do you think there is any chance the ICC would take this case up?

MARLES: Well, ultimately, that's a matter for the ICC. What I can tell you is what the Australian Government is doing. We regard this very seriously. We will seek to implement the recommendations of the Brereton Report to the fullest possible extent. And under this Government, Australia is holding itself to account.

JOURNALIST: Have you satisfied yourself personally that there has been enough accountability at the top brass as to what they knew about the allegations of war crimes?

MARLES: Well, as I said, the Chief of the Defence Force has gone through his process, which is appropriate, consistent with the recommendations of the Brereton Report, which have led to recommendations which are now sitting on my desk. And I am going through that process right now, seeking the appropriate advice in relation to these recommendations, and I will act upon them in due course.

JOURNALIST: What’s taking so long, Minister?

MARLES: The allegations which are at the heart of all of this, as I've said, are serious and they are grave. This needs to be done thoroughly and properly and it will take the time that it takes. But what's most important is not the time that it takes, but that the process is done fully and thoroughly, and that's what I intend to do.

ENDS