War Memorial to update Roberts-Smith panels but display will remain
The Australian War Memorial will update the text accompanying its displays about Ben Roberts-Smith after the former soldier lost his bid to overturn a landmark decision that found he committed war crimes in Afghanistan.
But a sensitive debate over how the institution acknowledges the behaviour of some Australian special forces soldiers in Afghanistan will continue, with Roberts-Smith seeking to challenge Friday's judgment – which upheld the findings of the original defamation trial – in the High Court.
The Full Court of the Federal Court unanimously dismissed Roberts-Smith's appeal on Friday, saying there was sufficient evidence to support findings that the decorated soldier was complicit in the murder of four unarmed prisoners while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. The allegations were first reported by this masthead.
Australian War Memorial chair Kim Beazley said the organisation was still discussing its approach to displays featuring Roberts-Smith. 'But wording will be altered to reflect the decision,' he said on Sunday.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not weigh in when asked whether the Australian War Memorial should remove references to Roberts-Smith given the court outcome.
'I have no comments on those matters. I know there's been legal matters taking place between various media organisations. I haven't commented before and I won't comment after,' he said on Sunday.
Roberts-Smith's uniform is displayed at the entrance of the Hall of Valour in the upgraded Australian War Memorial, which is still undergoing renovations and set to fully reopen in 2028.
The text panel next to it introduces Roberts-Smith as a two-metre tall 'imposing figure on the battlefield' who was deployed to Afghanistan six times. It describes why he was awarded the Victoria Cross and says he is 'Australia's most highly decorated combat soldier from the conflict'.
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