Documents from Australia’s Department of Defence show that no payments have been made to Afghan victims two years after a compensation scheme was established.
The Saturday Paper reported that 105 claims had been lodged since the scheme was launched in November 2024, of which 45 had been rejected.
According to the report, at least six claims had been referred for assessment since August 2025, but none had resulted in compensation payments.
The compensation scheme for Afghan victims was established following the publication of an Australian military investigation report.
Known as the Brereton Report, the investigation found credible evidence supporting allegations that Australian special forces unlawfully killed 39 Afghans in 23 separate incidents.
Ghulam Jilani, one of the victims, lost an eye and was shot multiple times in the chest during a military raid in Uruzgan province in 2006.
Although the Australian government has not disputed his account, Jilani’s compensation claim was rejected because the incident was not included in the Brereton Report.
Lawyers representing victims’ families say the claims process is slow and lacks transparency, leaving many families still waiting for compensation.
