"The IGADF Afghanistan Inquiry has,for some time,been aware of allegations of significant issues involving the Special Operations Task Group in Afghanistan,which are within the scope of the Inquiry,"the statement said.
Those interviewed by the Crompvoets inquiry include defence top brass,“influential” officials from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet,federal police officers,public servants from the department of foreign affairs and spy agency ASIO and others “at ministerial level.”
But Dr Crompvoets wrote that it was defence and special forces “insiders” who provided the “more troubling” instances of dysfunction,concealment and command failure.
The testimony of insiders
“They described an organisation rift[sic] by internal tensions and rivalry (especially between SASR and commando units),a pattern of elitist/condescending behaviours towards support personnel,perceptions of senior leadership failure and cover-ups – real or imagined,and misdemeanours or more serious offences in the field,as well as a culture of drug and alcohol abuse,” the report says.
“There is no doubt that there are major issues of morale and performance involved – at the least.”
The Crompvoets inquiry acknowledges the impressive capability of the special forces to conduct sensitive and dangerous operations,but contrasts the image of the special forces portrayed to the Australian public with a darker,internal perspective that includes “unverifiable accounts of extremely serious breaches of accountability and trust” on overseas operations and within Australia.
“Some of these related to policy,process and governance failure – like loss of weapons,unacceptable WHS[Workplace Health and Safety] practices,poor audit results,injudicious and wasteful practices in resources management,less than transparent or compliant acquisition practices,” the report says.
“Even more concerning were allusions to behaviour and practices involving abuse of drugs and alcohol,domestic violence,unsanctioned and illegal application of violence on operations … and the perception of a complete lack of accountability at times.”
'Horrendous things'
The report removes the name of special forces interviewees – several of whom provided candid accounts on condition of confidentiality – but includes excerpts of their testimony.
An interviewee described as an “SOF[special operations forces] insider” told Dr Crompvoets that"I know there were over the last 15 years some horrendous things. Some just disgraceful things happened in Kabul ... very bad news,or just inappropriate behaviour,but it was pretty much kept under wraps.”
Australian special forces troops arrive back at base after a mission in Oruzgan province in Afghanistan.Credit:Department of Defence
Another “SOF insider” told Dr Crompvoets of a cover-up culture dedicated to “protecting people”.
Dr Crompvoets said “others felt there was a deep impediment to change because of the extent to which leaders with SOF backgrounds,highly placed through the SOF and beyond,were compromised by their own participation or complicity in problematic behaviours of the past.”
A senior government official told Dr Crompvoets that former special forces “leaders have told me to'watch[current leaders]'... it’s alarming that's their view. You think'what the hell is going on in there?'".
The report found the “significant consequence” of the dysfunctional relationship between the east coast-based Commandos and Perth-based SASR “seems to be erosion in,and sub optimal delivery of SOF capability outcomes to Defence and ultimately Government”.
One person interviewed disclosed that despite working with the Commandos and the SASR,“ridiculously,I am not allowed to tell the West[SAS] about what we are doing here and the West don't want the East[Commandos] to know what they are doing. Anyone can clearly see,if they collaborated,there would be huge capability gains and efficiencies."Another informant who was debriefed by Dr Crompvoets described the undermining of training exercises,including the joint US-Australian Talisman Saber event.
Some just disgraceful things happened in Kabul ... very bad news
A special operations insider
“The serious internal cultural problems revealed in this report present major challenges for SOCOMD[Special Operations Command] and will resist simple or cosmetic solutions,” the report concludes.
“The problems,of themselves,are beyond the scope of this study,but they have a clear impact on risk and reputation that is directly relevant to the way that SOCOMD works with and is viewed by partner agencies (as well as more broadly for national security and/or strategic/political interests).“
“The current situation holds inherent risks,not only for sub-optimal delivery of capacity,but potentially for national security and/or strategic/political interests,given the sensitive nature of deployments.”
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