As the Australian War Memorial raises the curtain on a major new gallery and space, the presence of alleged war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith will cast a long shadow.
All living Victoria Cross recipients have been invited to attend Tuesday evening's official opening of the memorial's atrium and Anzac Hall, a gallery that focuses mainly on Australia's commitments to the Middle East, Afghanistan and peacekeeping operations.
Judge Susan Horan earlier in June permitted Roberts-Smith to attend the opening, which required a bail variation.
The decorated soldier is accused of murdering or ordering the murders of five unarmed detainees while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
Judge Horan barred Roberts-Smith from discussing the cases against himself or fellow accused war criminal Oliver Schulz.
