Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living soldier and a defendant facing five war crime murder charges, attended the Australian War Memorial in Canberra to mark 25 years since the nation deployed to Afghanistan.

The Victoria Cross recipient attended Sunday’s ceremony with his partner, Sarah Matulin, after receiving court permission to travel to Canberra under his bail conditions.

Wearing his medals, Roberts-Smith joined about 600 veterans at the service marking the 25th anniversary of Australian service in Afghanistan.

Roberts-Smith was arrested by the Australian Federal Police in April and charged over the alleged killings of five unarmed Afghan men between 2009 and 2012 while serving with the Special Air Service Regiment.

He has not entered pleas to the charges and continues to deny any wrongdoing.

His appearance comes more than three years after he lost his defamation case against Nine newspapers.

In that civil case, Federal Court Justice Anthony Besanko found on the balance of probabilities that several allegations of Roberts-Smith’s involvement in unlawful killings were substantially true.

Those civil findings were made under a lower standard of proof than applies in criminal proceedings, and Roberts-Smith has not been convicted of any offence.

Also in attendance was Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie, whose involvement in the Roberts-Smith saga sparked a public clash with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.

Hastie was compelled to give evidence during Roberts-Smith’s 2022 defamation trial against Nine newspapers after raising concerns about conduct within the SAS during Australia’s Afghanistan campaign.

Hanson later targeted Hastie in a political cartoon, calling him a ‘traitor’ for his role in the proceedings.

Hastie responded by accusing Hanson of being ‘weak’ and ‘a lying coward’, after she denied labelling him as such.

Roberts-Smith’s partner, Sarah Matulin, also became embroiled in the controversy after she commented ‘traitor’ on an Anzac Day Instagram post by Hastie, which showed the former SAS officer attending a dawn service with his children.

The remark later drew public attention, prompting Matulin to issue an apology through Roberts-Smith’s lawyer, Karen Espiner.

‘It was a mistake to make that comment in a public forum and wasn’t done with Ben’s knowledge,’ Matulin said.

Roberts-Smith was also seen speaking with Liberal shadow minister for defence industry and defence personnel Phil Thompson during the ceremony.

Sunday’s commemoration marked a quarter of a century since Australia joined the United States and coalition partners in Afghanistan after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

More than 35,000 Australians served in Afghanistan and the broader Middle East Area of Operations over two decades, before Australia’s withdrawal in 2021.

Forty-seven Australian Defence Force personnel died during the campaign and 263 were wounded.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined Governor-General Sam Mostyn, Defence Minister Richard Marles, Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh, Opposition Leader Angus Taylor and former prime ministers John Howard, Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison at the service.

Addressing veterans and their families, Albanese reflected on Australia’s decision to join the conflict in the wake of September 11.

‘Australia did what is so resolutely in our nature. We went to support our friend and ally. We went because we saw what was at stake,’ he said.

‘We went on the principle that September 11 was an attack on a way of life that belonged just as much to us.’

Albanese paid tribute to the more than 35,000 Australians who served in Afghanistan over two decades.

‘They made an invaluable contribution to a complex multinational mission, upholding the finest of Australian military traditions in the process,’ Albanese said.

‘Their courage, the strength of their character and the bonds of their camaraderie are a beacon to us still.’

Albanese also recognised the sacrifices made by both Australian personnel and Afghan allies.

‘What shone brightly amid it all was the courage of so many Afghans,’ he said.

‘We honour all who went and all who fell. We honour those who came home, wounded in body or wounded in soul, hearts changed forever by the fight.’

Among those at the service were Warrant Officer (Retd) Mick Enchong and his children, Flight Lieutenant Jason Enchong and Sergeant Tara Enchong, believed to be the first father, son and daughter trio to deploy to an operational area together, having served in Afghanistan on Operation Slipper in 2012.

The service also highlighted the Australian War Memorial’s new Afghanistan Gallery, which documents Australia’s two decades in the conflict and honours those who served.