Australia’s SAS was riven by ‘toxic’ infighting serving soldier tells Ben Roberts-Smith defamation trial

Australia’s SAS became a ‘toxic’ environment after its deployment to Afghanistan, a serving soldier has told federal court in Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation case against the Age, the Sydney Morning Herald and the Canberra Times. Photograph: LS Paul Berry

After years of fighting in Afghanistan, Australia’s elite SAS regiment was a “toxic” environment riven by internecine fighting over decorations and medals, a serving SAS soldier has told the federal court.

“The SASR is like a country wives’ club,” the soldier said under cross-examination on Monday, “rumours are spread, and they just get bigger and bigger and bigger”.