Australian War Memorial to further change display commemorating Ben Roberts-Smith's Victoria Cross medal
The Ben Roberts-Smith display at the Australian War Memorial was unveiled in 2011. (AAP: Alan Porritt )
In short:
The Australian War Memorial has confirmed it will make further changes to its display commemorating Ben Roberts-Smith's Victoria Cross, first changed when he was found complicit in war crimes on the balance of probabilities.
On Friday the Australian special forces veteran failed a Federal Court appeal to his defamation case against Nine Newspapers, prompting the war memorial to update the display again.
What's next?
Australian War Memorial chairman Kim Beazley has confirmed the display will be altered again, but could not provide any further detail about how or when.
The Australian War Memorial has confirmed it will make changes to its display commemorating Ben Roberts-Smith's Victoria Cross medal, in light of last week's Federal Court ruling.
The full Federal Court in Sydney dismissed the Australian special forces veteran's appeal against his long-running defamation case against Nine Newspapers on Friday.
Mr Roberts-Smith had tried to sue three newspapers over a series of articles published in 2018 detailing allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan, bullying, and domestic violence against a woman in Canberra.
In 2023, a Federal Court judge in Sydney found Mr Roberts-Smith complicit in war crimes on the balance of probabilities.
Ben Roberts-Smith was ordered by the Federal Court to pay more than $25 million in costs. (AAP: Flavio Brancaleone)
The justices who dismissed his appeal last week ordered him to pay costs, which were estimated to have cost more than $25 million.
Following the dismissal, Mr Roberts-Smith said he would "immediately" seek a challenge to the decision in the High Court, reiterating his ongoing denial of what he described as "egregious, spiteful allegations".
The Australian War Memorial added information to a plaque commemorating Mr Roberts-Smith's Victoria Cross medal late in 2023 to reflect the Federal Court's findings earlier that year.
A panel was added alongside the display of Ben Roberts-Smith's uniform at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. (Supplied)
The revised text panel, which remains on display at the war memorial, reads in part:
"In June 2023 a Federal Court judge determined that there was "substantial truth" to the allegations that Roberts-Smith had been involved and complicit in unlawful killings in Afghanistan.
"Roberts-Smith has appealed this decision.
"Roberts-Smith has not been charged with any offence under criminal law."
In a statement to the ABC, Australian War Memorial chairman Kim Beazley confirmed the display would be altered again, but could not provide any further detail about how or when.
"We're looking at it but there will be alterations,"Mr Beazley said.
"They will obviously reflect the change in circumstances that result from a decision and the fact that other decisions are being made or are yet to be made."
Australian War Memorial chair Kim Beazley says alterations will be made to the display, but would not say when or how. (Four Corners)
Two portraits also removed
An Australian War Memorial spokesperson said the collection of items relating to Mr Roberts-Smith remained in the memorial's galleries, "displayed with context of the case".
"And the interpretive panel will continue to be updated accordingly,"the spokesperson said.
The Australian War Memorial has also removed two portraits of Mr Roberts-Smith from display as part of its $500 million development, which is expected to be completed in 2028.
Ben Roberts-Smith with one of two portraits of himself that have been taken off display at the Australian War Memorial. (AAP: Alan Porritt)
The pieces are among a collection of more than 300 items that have been taken off display as part of planned gallery works.
"The memorial will display thousands of new objects in an expanded Peacekeeping and Middle East galleries in the new Anzac Hall," the AWM said in 2023.
It's unclear whether the portraits of Mr Roberts-Smith will feature in the new exhibition space when it opens.