Labor Allocates $50.4 Million for Afghanistan War Crimes Investigations

Funding will go to the Office of the Special Investigator to review evidence and prepare cases for prosecution.

A street mural by artist Jarrod Grech shows former Australian SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith, in Melbourne, Australia on April 17, 2026. William West/AFP via Getty Images

The Labor government has set aside $50.4 million (US$36.5 million) in the 2026–27 budget to support investigations into alleged war crimes involving Australian troops in Afghanistan.

The funding, outlined in the May 12 budget papers (pdf), will go to the Office of the Special Investigator, which is tasked with reviewing evidence and preparing cases for possible prosecution.