Order Defence to hand over the command-accountability report and a reform study — back it or block it?

Senator David Shoebridge moved two orders demanding the Defence Minister table full copies of two documents by 28 July: the Inspector-General's report into command accountability following the ADF's Afghanistan inquiry, and a Defence reform study by interim National Armaments Director Nadine Williams.

The Coalition, speaking through Senator Jonathon Duniam, opposed the first, saying the report is highly classified, covers operational matters, and that releasing it could jeopardise ongoing war-crimes investigations led by the Office of the Special Investigator. The Senate rejected the first order 15 votes to 24, but passed the second 33 to 21.

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📄 Senate Hansard, 2 Jul 2026 — Australian Defence Force; Order for the Production of Documents

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The strongest case each way

For · David Shoebridge (Greens)The government should be forced to publicly release the command-accountability report and the Defence reform study, setting a firm deadline for the minister to table them.

Against · CoalitionThe command-accountability report is highly classified and covers operational matters; releasing it could jeopardise ongoing war-crimes investigations being run by the Office of the Special Investigator.