Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

The document will be forwarded to the Standing Committee on Petitions for its consideration. It will be accepted subject to confirmation by the committee that it conforms to the standing orders.

The petition read as follows—

To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives assembled in Parliament.

We, the undersigned, are appalled at Australia’s continued involvement in the unlawful US invasion and occupation of Iraq. As a result of the invasion:

• By October 2006 more than 655,000 people had been killed and countless others had been seriously maimed and injured (John Hopkins University School or Public Health study, published in the Lancet journal, October 2006) and since that time the slaughter has continued on a daily basis;

• Civilians live in constant danger;

• The health system has been devastated and people die daily from treatable illnesses and injuries;

• 33 per cent of children suffer from malnutrition;

• Rape, trafficking and kidnapping of women has risen and women activists have been assassinated, while other women who refuse to comply with newly restrictive dress and movement have been bashed;

• Iraq has gone from being a food exporter to a nation where people suffer from starvation and hunger; and

• More than 2 million Iraqis have fled their country and almost another 2 million have fled their homes and remain in Iraq.

We call on all Members of the House to:

• Withdraw Australian troops from Iraq immediately;

• Ensure financial and rebuilding support is provided to Iraq;

• Restore Iraqi resources to Iraqi hands; and

Ensure Iraqi refugees are welcomed to Australia.

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