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Hanson stands by Roberts-Smith after war crime arrest

Source: bit.ly

TL;DR

Pauline Hanson vows continued support for Ben Roberts-Smith after his arrest on war crime charges.
He faces five counts of murder for deaths of unarmed Afghan nationals between 2009 and 2012.
Case follows 2023 civil ruling finding him likely involved, but criminal proof requires higher standard.

The story at a glance

Pauline Hanson, One Nation senator, publicly backed former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith after his arrest at Sydney Airport by Australian Federal Police. He was charged with five counts of war crime murder over alleged killings of unarmed Afghan civilians during deployments from 2009 to 2012. The article covers her reaction the same day as the arrest, amid his prior civil defamation loss. This builds on years of scrutiny from the Brereton inquiry into SAS conduct in Afghanistan.[[1]](https://bit.ly/4cfCutb)[[2]](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crr1jyk0qwjo)

Key points

Roberts-Smith, Australia's most decorated living soldier and Victoria Cross recipient, arrested Tuesday in front of his twin 15-year-old daughters.
Federal Police say victims were unarmed Afghan nationals not taking part in hostilities; each charge carries maximum life imprisonment.
Hanson posted on X: steadfast support, calls arrest "disgraceful," urges public backing unlike "other politicians."
In 2023 civil defamation case, Justice Besanko ruled on balance of probabilities that Roberts-Smith murdered four unarmed Afghan men.
Legal expert Justin Quill notes civil standard lower than criminal "beyond reasonable doubt," suggests police have new evidence.
Greens senator David Shoebridge reacted to arrest news with "Good."
Oliver Schulz, another ex-SAS soldier, charged in 2023 with one war crime murder; trial set for 2027.[[1]](https://bit.ly/4cfCutb)[[3]](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-07/ben-roberts-smith-charged-war-crimes/106539678)[[4]](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australias-most-decorated-soldier-ben-roberts-smith-arrested-over-alleged-war-2026-04-07)

Details and context

The charges stem from a joint five-year probe by AFP and Office of the Special Investigator, following the 2020 Brereton report that alleged 39 unlawful killings by Australian forces in Afghanistan. Roberts-Smith lost his 2023 defamation suit against media outlets over similar claims, but Quill stresses the civil "balance of probabilities" finding does not guarantee criminal conviction.

Hanson's defense highlights family impact and contrasts with political silence, framing it as loyalty to a decorated veteran. The arrest marks only the second such criminal war crime charge against an Australian soldier from Afghanistan.

Quill calls the proceedings "unprecedented," noting no prior Australian war crimes trial of this scale despite historical prosecutions of foreign nationals.

Key quotes

"I remain steadfast in my support of Ben Roberts-Smith despite news of his arrest today... I will not abandon him like so many other politicians. Ben was disgracefully arrested in front of his twin 15-year-old girls." – Senator Pauline Hanson on X.[[1]](https://bit.ly/4cfCutb)

Why it matters

This tests Australia's commitment to prosecuting alleged war crimes by its forces, even high-profile veterans, amid global scrutiny of Afghanistan operations. For military families and the public, it raises questions on veteran treatment, due process, and separating civil findings from criminal trials. Watch court proceedings, especially evidence disclosure and any plea, though trial could take years like Schulz's case.