Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says the court ruling against decorated war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith was a "tough day for the country" and believes there has been a "significant culture change" at the Australian Defence Force.
"I think it's a tough day for our country to be honest," Mr Dutton told the Nine Network on Friday morning.
"The vast majority of Australians hold the SAS and Defence Force in the highest regard. This obviously is a case now that will go on appeal, and there's also a criminal investigation."
A defamation case by war veteran Mr Roberts-Smith against three newspapers was dismissed, after a judge found the defence of substantial truth had been established over alleged unlawful killings and bullying.
Arthur Moses SC, who acts for Mr Roberts-Smith, requested an extension to appeal — if Mr Roberts-Smith chooses to — and this was granted by the court.
Former defence minister Mr Dutton said most Australians still hold the Victoria Cross recipient's former SAS regiment in the highest regard, and he believes there has been enormous change in that regiment since Mr Roberts-Smith's time.
"I think there has been a significant culture change over the last half a dozen years at least," he says.
"You go to visit the regiment in Perth now, there are very few people there who even served in Afghanistan or were involved in conflicts in the Middle East.
"The next generation, even one removed, now are serving in the SAS," he added.
Some veterans' groups, including the Special Air Service Association, have warned the court outcome could further stall recruitment efforts for the defence force.
"Ever since these matters have arisen, defence force recruiting and retention has fallen off the cliff [and] we have an increased incidence of veteran suicide," SAS Association national president Martin Hamilton-Smith said.
"All of this has been extremely damaging — not only to special forces and the SAS Regiment but the Defence Force as a whole — and I think that is partly because of the way it has been handled by government and by the ADF itself."
Taliban seizes on landmark ruling
The Afghanistan-ruling Taliban regime responded to the landmark court decision saying foreign forces had committed "uncountable crimes" during the 20-year war in the country.
Taliban spokesperson Bilal Karimi said incidents examined in Mr Roberts-Smith's court case were a "small part" of the many alleged crimes that took place, and that they did not trust any court in the world to follow them up.
Greens Senator David Shoebridge called on the Albanese government to "urgently progress" compensation for Afghan families affected by alleged Australian war crimes during the US-led war.
"This is not justice for the families who lost loved ones or for the communities that have been brutalised by war crimes, but it takes us a step closer," Mr Shoebridge said.
"The Albanese Labor government should urgently progress compensation for families of victims of alleged Afghanistan war crimes, one of the key outstanding recommendations of the Brereton report."
