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Tess Ikonomou

Greens back referring ADF command to criminal court

David Shoebridge: there are no clear accountability measures for the most senior members of the ADF. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

The Greens say referring senior Australian Defence Force leaders to the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan is justified.

Independent senator Jacqui Lambie met with Defence Minister Richard Marles on Wednesday to discuss her concerns the ADF's leadership had not been held to account for their actions.

Greens defence spokesman David Shoebridge said the party had since reviewed the referral and supported it.

"Here in Australia, there are no clear accountability measures for the most senior members of the Australian Defence Force," he said.

"We've had more accountability been been delivered by media outlets in defence of defamation proceedings than we've seen from the federal government. 

"It appears that in the Australian Defence Force the greater the responsibility, the less the accountability."

Senator Shoebridge said together with the referral, the Greens continue to call upon the government to broaden the scope of the investigation into alleged war crimes, so those in the chain of command are "investigated for their complicity".

Senator Lambie previously said the referral to The Hague asked the court to examine the country's high commanders "through the lens of command responsibility".

Mr Marles is considering advice from the chief of the defence force.

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