Army Chief Susan Coyle reveals concerns over China military build-up and Afghanistan war crimes fallout

Australia’s new Army Chief has acknowledged the “psychosocial risk” to the families of soldiers accused of committing war crimes in Afghanistan but insists the complex cases must be thoroughly investigated and proper support given to witnesses.

In an exclusive and wide-ranging interview with The Nightly, Lieutenant-General Susan Coyle says she is also “worried” about China’s rapid military build-up but insists Australia is not in immediate danger of attack.

Speaking while hosting the massive Land Forces event in Perth this week, Lieutenant-General Coyle has also outlined her priorities n the Army’s top job. aand nominated improving interoperability as a key challenge.<

Since assuming command of the Army as its first female Chief in July, she has kept a close watch on the continuing investigations and legal processes connected to the Brereton inquiry into alleged wrongdoing by Australian special forces in Afghanistan.

“It is really important that as a defence force we align and adhere to our values and our behaviours. If there are serious allegations of wrongdoing, they need to be investigated, and none of us should be concerned or surprised by that,” she said.

“We have to support all of our people and their families. I mean, these are significant allegations, and we also have to support those that have the moral courage to speak up and raise those allegations.”

Asked whether she was concerned about how long it was taking for alleged crimes to be brought before court and prosecuted, the Army chief said the “complex cases” were “pretty significant” and would take time.

“I don’t think we’re any rush to come to any adverse finding. I think we just want to make sure that it’s done in an appropriate manner.”

“I acknowledge, though, the longer these go on, it causes psychosocial risk to people and their families, and that’s not OK. As soon as we can get to a conclusion, we would warmly welcome that.”

Three months since replacing Lieutenant General Simon Stuart as the forty-first Australian Chief of Army, Lieutenant-General Coyle said her priorities remained similar to those of her predecessor and the mantra: “Mission ready, people always”.

“It’s about training as we fight. It’s about understanding how we’re going to fight and win in the littorals, our long-range strike, you know, our ability to do combat operations, and working together across the five war-fighting domains with our allies and partners, so they’re robust,” she said.

Pressed on whether she believed the Army had the resources, capability, and funding to fight an armed conflict, she insisted her troops were ready for any call to duty.

“If we go to war tonight, we go with the army that we have. We go with the equipment that we have,” she said.

“And what I can tell you is that we train every day as if tomorrow we go to war.”

“And so you know that ‘mission ready’ part is about making sure that every man and woman in our army knows their role.

“They’re part of that jigsaw puzzle and is an expert at it.”

“And the ‘people always’ part make sure that we look after them, their families, and their mates, so that they can do what it is that we will ask them to do, should the government send us somewhere.”

With regional concerns growing over China’s rapid military build-up, Lieutenant-General Coyle said she too would like to see Beijing act “with transparency” about its activities and that Australia would continue to call out bad behaviour.

“Of course, we’re worried. I think everyone worries, but you know, China has such a strong economic relationship with I think almost every country in the globe,” she said. “We’re not going to cut off our nose to spite our face, and we’re certainly not aiming or trying to go to war with anybody.”

“Ultimately, the reason we have a defence force is a deterrence, not a threat to go to war. I mean, hopefully, the fact that we have such a credible ADF means that people think twice about thinking Australia is a target.”