The family of a Victorian soldier killed during a live-fire training exercise near Darwin welcomes changes intended to prevent further loss of military life.
The Defence Department has admitted breaching its duty of care to a young soldier fatally shot in the head during a live-fire exercise, saying it was a terrible and avoidable tragedy. Victorian soldier Private Jason Challis, 25, died after he was shot in 2017 at the Australian Defence Force s Mount Bundey training area, about 120km southeast of Darwin. The department pleaded guilty in the Northern Territory Local Court on Tuesday to failing to comply with its health and safety duty to Pte Challis. The Defence Department pleaded guilty in the Northern Territory Local Court on Tuesday to failing to comply with its health and safety duty to Private Jason Challis, who died after being shot in the head during training in 2017 aged 26