The War Crimes Amendment Act 1988 took effect on January 25, 1989, and made substantial changes to the War Crimes Act 1945. Instead of a military court hearing the charges, State and Territory Courts now have Federal jurisdiction to try the cases. The law also restricts the operation of the Act to war crimes committed in Europe between September 1, 1939, and May 8, 1945. The problems associated with the passage of the legislation as well as with the committal hearings have been and continue to be considerable. The Federal Government's recent decision to abandon further investigations into a fourth alleged Nazi war criminal living in Australia make it likely that no further charges will be placed under the law. This decision indicates that political expediency was won out over justice and due process. By abandoning the investigations, the government is allowing Nazi war criminals to remain complacent and protected from their past. However, the age or frailty of the accused should not hinder Australia in accepting this valuable opportunity to publicly denounce and criminalize their past actions. Footnotes