Australian soldiers' bodies 'not upside-down'

A defence inquiry into claims of mishandling of dead Australian soldiers has found two caskets were despatched from Afghanistan upside down but the remains remained "correctly oriented".

That follows media reports claiming instances of improper treatment of soldiers killed in Afghanistan in 2011.

The inquiry was conducted by the Australian Defence Force Inspector General over whether repatriation of remains from the

Middle East in the period February to July 2011 were managed in accordance with defence policy.

Defence said the inquiry confirmed two caskets containing the remains of Australian soldiers were inverted on departing the base at Tarin Kowt.

"However, the remains contained within both caskets were correctly oriented and the remains were never upside down. The caskets were realigned before being flown back to Australia," defence said in a statement.

"At all times, the soldiers' remains were treated with the utmost dignity and respect."

Defence said instructions on the use of caskets had been amended to provide clearer guidance on the correct orientation.

The Inspector General also examined the case of an insurgent's body despatched from the Tarin Kowt base hospital to the morgue aboard a taxi in 2010.

By assuming responsibility for the remains, the medical facility also took responsibility for their disposal.

The inquiry found it was likely the remains were transported from the medical facility to the local civilian morgue by taxi.

"The remains of the Afghan insurgent were not under the control of Australian forces, and were transferred under standard arrangements between a Coalition partner and the local Afghan authorities," defence said.