"We will act on the findings when they are presented to the Chief of the Defence Force,"General Burr said in the internal email,obtained byThe Age andThe Sydney Morning Herald."We all have a role to build on the actions we have already taken to address shortcomings that our social research programs and reforms have identified. This is what we do."
The release of the email comesa week after news that the inquiry had uncovered the actions of a rogue squad of SAS soldiers who allegedly murdered multiple bound or defenceless Afghan detainees.
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The four-year inquiry by senior judge Paul Brereton is underpinned by detailed confessions by Commando and Special Air Service Regiment soldiers who have admitted that they participated in or covered up the execution of unarmed prisoners and defenceless Afghans. The killings breach the rules of war and Australia's criminal code.
General Burr’s email gives the first indication of the defence force’s public response to the Brereton inquiry report,which defence sources anticipate will be released in part to the public.
Senior defence officials have said in private briefings that they are concerned some of the soldiers accused of war crimes will attempt to denigrate the inquiry by claiming it is not independent.
In his email,General Burr emphasises the Brereton inquiry"is independent from ... the ADF chain of command to ensure its integrity"as it probes"alleged unlawful killings of people who were non-combatants or were no longer combatants and also cruel treatment of such people".