Tuesday 9.30pm SBS ONE
Wednesday 2.00pm SBS ONE (rpt)
Friday 8.30pm SBS TWO (rpt)

Questions from Oruzgan

121 Comments

Dateline’s investigation into the killing of four children, a teenager and an adult by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan in February 2009 has prompted the matter to be raised in the Senate.

Video journalist Sophie McNeill and Chief Producer Geoff Parish spent almost 12 months investigating what happened on that fateful night in Oruzgan, for a report broadcast on 7th March 2010.

They traced the surviving members of the family, who say they were attacked in a case of mistaken identity, by troops who were targeting a Taliban leader.

The family also claim they have not yet been interviewed by the Australian Defence Force over what happened.

Click here to see the report from 7th March 2010.

The Australian Defence Force responded saying it’s handed over the inquiry to the Director of Military Prosecutions, and won’t comment until she decides what action will be taken.

Click here to see the ADF’s full response to Dateline’s questions.

But on 11th March 2010, Greens Senator Bob Brown raised a motion proposing an independent inquiry in the Senate.

While Defence Minister John Faulkner failed to support the motion, he did acknowledge the importance and complexity of the matter.

Click here to watch the highlights of the Senate discussion.

You can also read a special feature by Sophie McNeill for the Dateline website with more background to the story.

Sophie's report won a Walkley Award for Excellence in Journalism in December 2010, in the Television Current Affairs (more then 20 minutes) category. The story was also a finalist in the Investigative Journalism category. Click to find out more.

On air: 7th March 2010

explore

War

timeline map all stories

Afghanistan

timeline all stories

Australia

timeline all stories