New Defence Minister Overturns Decision to Strip Afghan Veterans of Medals

In this handout photo provided by ISAF Regional Command (South), Australian defense engineers carry the casket of their friend and colleague Cpl. Richard Atkinson at Multinational Base Tarin Kot in Uruzgan, Afghanistan on February 5, 2011. Australian Cpl. Christopher Dickson/Australian Department of Defense via Getty Images

Newly appointed Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton has overturned a decision to strip 3,000 soldiers of their citations after their service in Afghanistan.

Last year, Chief of Defence Angus Campbell recommended the Meritorious Unit Citation be revoked for the Special Operations Task Group as a “collective punishment” after the release of a report that revealed evidence of war crimes committed by Australian personnel.