Defence Minister Peter Dutton deserves praise for overruling a decision to strip citations from more than 3,000 Special Forces soldiers, according to Sky News host Rita Panahi.

“To be clear, the allegations in the Brereton report are appalling and must be further investigated with those responsible prosecuted to the full extent of the law, but no good comes from collective guilt and punishing the innocent along with the guilty,” Ms Panahi said.

“Some of those who would’ve been penalised are the brave whistle blowers who brought to light the actions of the small minority who the inquiry found ‘fused military excellence with ego, entitlement and exceptionalism’.

“Stripping citations from more than 3,000 Special Forces soldiers would’ve been a mass miscarriage of justice and Peter Dutton deserves praise for overruling the Defence chief.”