This is a moment of accountability and highlights the appalling cost of war on all sides. No one should be above the law.
These charges relate to killings that happened in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012, for victims and survivors that is far too long to wait for justice.
Deployments of troops in overseas conflicts always come at enormous cost to people on the ground who face the horror and brutality of war.
It is essential we remember the human cost of war right now as the US and Israeli attacks on Iran and the Iranian people escalate.
From the Brereton report onwards there has been a gaping hole in the accountability for what happened in Afghanistan, with the only legal repercussions being directed against non-commissioned troops.
Gold braid on your shoulder is not meant to be legal protection from complicity in war crimes.
If justice is to be fully delivered there must be further and closer attention paid to the role of senior officers who directed and oversaw Australia's deployment in Afghanistan.
The Greens continue to push for a dedicated War Crimes investigation unit within the AFP to build the expertise to rapidly investigate war crimes offences going forward.
No one, whether accused or survivor, benefits from the delays we have seen to date.
