The body tasked with probing alleged war crimes in Afghanistan has seen its staff more than double over the past year, as it formally investigates claims raised in a landmark report.
The Office of the Special Investigator is working with the Australian Federal Police to investigate allegations of criminal offences by Australian Defence Force members in Afghanistan from 2005 to 2016.
The Brereton inquiry unearthed credible evidence of war crimes by Australian special forces while serving in Afghanistan, including 39 murders.
This includes allegations soldiers tortured two prisoners with junior patrol members ordered to carry out executions.
In its latest annual report, the office revealed its staff numbers have risen from 52 last year to 125 working across its three offices in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne and AFP offices around the country.
The report also confirmed that "during 2021/22 OSI/AFP investigators commenced investigating allegations raised in the IGADF Afghanistan Inquiry report and other allegations within the OSI's remit".
It has also completed its recruitment of investigators.
The office initially hired 24 investigators who started work in 2020/21 and recently took on a second group of 27 investigators and analysts.
The report released on Friday noted a third tranche of investigators would not be required.
It is not publicly known whether any briefs of evidence have been sent to the commonwealth director of public prosecutions.
The report noted the office was unable to publicly disclose details of briefs "due to the sensitive nature of investigations and of the brief compilation process".
