DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 201/10
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Commission of Inquiry to be established
The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, today announced that he
would be appointing a Chief of the Defence Force Commission of Inquiry to determine the
facts and circumstances that resulted in an Australian soldier being found unconscious in his
room in Tarin Kowt on Friday, 28 May 2010.
An Australian Defence Force Investigative Service (ADFIS) investigation is also underway
into the possible involvement of illicit drugs in this incident.
“The ADFIS is currently collecting evidence and conducting interviews in Afghanistan,”
Air Chief Marshal Houston said.
“As the investigation is ongoing, no findings are yet available, however, a bottle of pills and,
separately, white powder - thought to be an opiate - were found in the soldier’s room.
Analysis and medical testing to confirm the nature of the substance that may have caused or
contributed to his condition is ongoing.”
The soldier involved, Private D, is an experienced commando currently deployed with the
Special Operations Task Group. Defence will not disclose his name.
In response to the incident, the Special Operations Task Group Commanding Officer ordered
prohibited substance testing of all members of the soldier’s sub-unit. The results of these tests
will not be available until full analysis is completed. Testing of the remaining elements of the
SOTG is currently underway.
Air Chief Marshal Houston said the Commission of Inquiry will also identify any deficiencies
in the current Prohibited Substance Testing regime.
“The Australian Defence Force has a zero tolerance policy regarding the use of illicit drugs
and takes these matters very seriously,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said.
The Acting Commander of Australian Forces in the Middle East, Commodore Roger Boyce,
has initiated an administrative inquiry to determine immediate actions in response to the
conduct of a function involving Private D’s sub-unit that occurred the evening before the
incident.
Private D was found unconscious and unresponsive by his colleagues on Friday, 28 May.
Emergency first aid and medical treatment were administered. He was evacuated from
Tarin Kowt later that day to a United States military hospital in Kandahar, and then Bagram
where his condition remained serious.
Following a medical procedure to stabilise his condition at Bagram, the soldier arrived at the
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany on Tuesday evening. He remains in a serious
condition and is being closely monitored by medical staff.
DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
Private D’s parents and girlfriend have flown to Germany. The Defence Community
Organisation and an escort officer from the soldier’s unit are supporting the family in
Germany.
Private D joined the Australian Army in 2004 and following service in an infantry battalion
and a tour in East Timor, he successfully completed commando training and selection. He has
extensive operational service and is now on his third deployment with the Special Operations
Task Group to Afghanistan.
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
