Barry Haase (Kalgoorlie, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to vehemently support the report handed down on our visit in October 2005 to meet with Australian defence forces supporting the rehabilitation of Iraq. I say I am proud to stand in support of this report today because it was one of the most emotional and enlightening experiences that I have enjoyed over my seven years in parliament. The intensity of commitment by the Australian defence forces in Iraq was exceptional. ‘Exceptional’ is an easy and perhaps glib term to use, but there is no other word. The amount of training, the commitment and the level-headed objectivity of our ADF personnel employed throughout that operation were consistently impressive. I am proud to admit that their performances constantly stood out by comparison with others. Their leaders, who are quite obviously well briefed, well trained and well suited to the task, had nothing but praise for the men and women under their command.

We were absolutely privileged to enjoy the opportunity, on a very thorough and intense itinerary, to view all of the aspects of the operation. We went into Al Muthanna; we visited Camp Smitty; we flew up the Euphrates valley in choppers into the centre of Baghdad and saw the operations of our embassy there; we looked at the deployed forces whose major responsibility is security of government personnel and others moving about Baghdad; we were well briefed by General Casey, who is in command of the multinational forces in Iraq. The conditions that we found ourselves in were exceptional for a thorough briefing on what was going on in Iraq. The overwhelming impression one got as part of that delegation was that our men and women serving in Iraq were incredibly proud to be doing so. Some were back on a second—and, in one case, a third—tour of duty.

It struck me whilst I was there—and I have reflected on it since—how contrasting their view is with an often held view of the general public in Australia that these personnel would want to return home as quickly as possible and felt under some sort of duress that they were operating in the war zone that is Iraq today. As I say, I was constantly impressed with the fact that nothing could be further from the truth. They felt confident because they were well equipped. We have heard in this place today some of the details of that equipment, but certainly the Bushmaster and the ASLAVs are superior vehicles and well suited to the operations and limited space available to operate in in some of the villages. Some of the other members of the task force there were equipped with more cumbersome, more heavily armoured vehicles and were not capable of putting in the performances that our troops were. The relatively small number of ADF personnel deployed in the Iraqi situation was almost belied by the overwhelming praise of the achievements of that relatively small force. It made me feel incredibly proud to be a member of that delegation.

Apart from the military and security efforts of the ADF, one of the outstanding achievements that ought to be recognised is that of the group responsible for the placement of the famous red kangaroo symbol that we saw on projects that had been constructed in Al Muthanna province. The red kangaroo is a symbol that has been placed there by the Army, the CIMIC group. They have spent, in Al Muthanna, for instance, a mere $2.25 million and the accolades received for the effort and that expenditure are absolutely overwhelming. The local governor had nothing but praise for the way the efforts of that group had been so effective. It is worth saying that it is an incredibly efficient way of spending developmental dollars on the ground.

It struck me at the time—and I think it was realised by all members of the party—that so often when taxpayer dollars are deployed into reconstruction in these war zones there are so many levels and so many palms to cross, if you like, that it becomes an inefficient method of spending dollars. By putting these dollars into the Defence Force, so much is done directly. Amongst other things, a laboratory for the testing of grain had been constructed in Al Muthanna province, and that was the pride of the locals and considered to be a great facility. I urge those who have the opportunity to influence more of those dollars being invested in a similar way to do so in a very positive manner.

The symbol of the red kangaroo is held in exceptionally high esteem and it is one that will be enduring in the minds of locals as a very positive contribution from the land down under. I might add that corrugated iron that was sent overseas during the Second World War persists in some of those locations with the orb symbol from Australia on it. Locals will tell you that that came from Australia and how pleased they are to have had that assistance. The governor of the Al Muthanna province, Mr Mohammed al Hassani, certainly made it clear that his people are anxious to see real development, and they are concerned of course that there be a foundation on which civilian security can be built. There is a great need for the training of both military and civil forces in Iraq so as to maintain law and order. But, having achieved that, and we hope to God that we will achieve that in a shorter rather than a longer time, there is so much infrastructure to be created—infrastructure that has been destroyed or did not exist in the first place. So much needs to be done.

One of the major things that have to be done is that irrigation water be made available so the Iraqi people in the Al Muthanna area can once again go back to the creation of productive crops. That water was cut off as an overt act to, presumably, flush out some of the enemies of Saddam Hussein. It was a purposeful act to create poverty and have the whole economy fail. One of the things that will be positively and permanently reversed when democracy is once more effectively restored to Iraq is that that water will flow again and those people who have produced good grain crops for many hundreds of years will be able to do so again. It is when we have achieved success in those sorts of activities that we can reflect and say there was no question as to why we gave the people of Iraq the opportunity for democracy. It is our belief today that those people deserve their shot at real democracy and they deserve to have the yoke of tyranny that has been imposed by Saddam Hussein permanently removed from their shoulders. I strongly recommend this report to the House.

Debate (on motion by Mrs May) adjourned.

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