Senior politicians have defended the decision to allow alleged war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith to attend the opening of a major new gallery at the Australian War Memorial.
All living Victoria Cross recipients have been invited to the official opening of the memorial's atrium and Anzac Hall, a gallery focusing mainly on Australia's commitments to the Middle East, Afghanistan and peacekeeping operations.
Despite a looming trial for five counts of the war crime of murder, Roberts-Smith has successfully had his bail varied to attend the event on Tuesday evening.
