Australia Faces Criticism as Afghan War Victims Remain Uncompensated Two Years After Scheme Launch

Australia Faces Criticism as Afghan War Victims Remain Uncompensated Two Years After Scheme Launch
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The Australian government has yet to pay compensation to Afghan victims of alleged war crimes committed by Australian special forces, despite the establishment of a dedicated compensation scheme nearly two years ago. Documents from Australia’s Department of Defence, obtained under freedom-of-information laws, show that no compensation payments had been made as of the latest reporting period.

According to an investigation published by The Saturday Paper on October 17, 2026, a total of 105 applications had been submitted through the scheme since its website launched in November 2024. Of these, 45 were deemed ineligible, while at least six claims had been referred to the appointed compensation advocate for assessment since August 2025. Lawyers representing Afghan victims and their families have criticised the process as excessively slow and lacking transparency, with some applicants receiving rejection letters despite reporting serious injuries allegedly inflicted by Australian troops.