Key Developments
On 11 October 2026, the Minister for Defence marked 25 years since Australia began Operation Slipper in Afghanistan, honouring more than 35,000 Australian Defence Force personnel who served there and the 47 Australians who died during the campaign.
Key Statistics
- More than 35,000 Australian Defence Force members served in Afghanistan, according to the Minister for Defence.
- 47 Australians died during the Afghanistan deployment, according to the Minister for Defence.
- 19 years of Rifle Company Butterworth service were covered by a historical reclassification decision, according to the Minister for Defence.
Main Body
On 11 October 2026, the Minister for Defence commemorated the 25th anniversary of Australia’s first military contribution to the war in Afghanistan through Operation Slipper. The minister said the deployment followed the September 11 attacks and involved more than 35,000 Australian Defence Force personnel.
The Minister for Defence said Australian personnel contributed to counterterrorism, reconstruction and humanitarian activity in Afghanistan. The statement honoured those who served, including 47 Australians who died, and recognised personnel who returned with physical injuries and mental health impacts from the campaign.
The anniversary formed part of a broader government focus on recognising defence service and addressing historical records. On 9 October 2026, the Minister for Defence said service at Rifle Company Butterworth in Malaysia had been reclassified from peacetime service to non-warlike service for 1970 to 1989. On 6 October 2026, the Minister for Defence said eligible current and former ADF personnel could apply to remove historical homosexual convictions from service records.
The commemoration mattered because it placed Australia’s Afghanistan commitment within the government’s continuing responsibilities to veterans, families and serving personnel. The Minister for Defence linked the anniversary to remembrance of sacrifice and long-term harm, while the related recognition measures showed how defence administration continued to affect entitlements, records and public acknowledgement of service.
