David Feeney (Batman, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Justice) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to take note of the minister's statement on Iraq and Afghanistan. I thank the Minister for Defence for providing this update to the parliament. Parliament is indeed the venue where such regular statements should be given. It provides all elected members an opportunity to debate and discuss decisions that put Australians in harm's way. I will begin by reiterating Labor's strong bipartisan support for the deployment of Australian service men and women to Iraq as part of international efforts against Daesh.

As they always do, our ADF personnel are serving with dedication and distinction. Make no mistake, Daesh is a barbaric organisation, but they should not be dismissed as disorganised or inexperienced in spreading their hateful ideology across Iraq and the wider world. As the Secretary of the Department of Defence told Senate estimates only yesterday:

It is important also to appreciate that Daesh or ISIL is well led. It is not a rabble of immature foreign fighters running around at the back of utes. It is led by experienced former Iraqi generals and others with substantial military experience. So as an enemy, as brutal and as nasty and as terrible as they are, you should not underestimate …

Our forces deployed to the Middle East to degrade Daesh are having an impact. Our RAAF pilots have completed 167 missions, releasing over 200 weapons. Our other Air Force assets, including refuelers, command and control aircraft and heavy-lift aircraft are providing invaluable support for the international mission. This has included humanitarian aid drops to those minority groups cut off and weapons drops to Kurdish Peshmerga troops who are taking the fight to Daesh. Our special forces are now on the ground in Iraq, advising and assisting the Iraqi armed forces. Australia's contribution is making a difference. As the Chief of the Defence Force Air Marshal Mark Binskin said yesterday:

Since our operations began last August, the international coalition has assisted Iraqi and Kurdish forces to reclaim 700 to 800 square kilometres of previously occupied territory and restricted Daesh's freedom of movement, forcing the terrorists to become increasingly defensive.

…   …   …

… for all intents and purposes … their major push and their major strategic message of being able to establish a caliphate is in question.

Ultimately, this battle can only be won by the Iraqis themselves, and so our measure of effectiveness and success will be in making the role of our forces redundant through building the capacity of the Iraqi armed forces.

I can inform the House that the Leader of the Opposition had the honour of visiting Australian forces in Iraq earlier this year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the government for facilitating the recent visit of the Leader of the Opposition to the Middle East area of operations. Mr Shorten received detailed briefings in relation to the air component and travelled into Iraq to talk to our special operations personnel involved in the advise-and-assist mission. Mr Shorten was able to receive confirmation of the progress that has been made to date in preventing further advances by Daesh, and the effective air operations in delivering humanitarian supplies to those in dire need. He was briefed on the delivery of military supplies to the Peshmerga resistance forces, as well as the operations to degrade the capabilities, freedom of movement and resupply of Daesh. He was also advised of the preparation for the next phase of offensive operations: to recover major population centres and territories still held by Daesh in Iraq.

I had the privilege of being at Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE in August 2014 and observed firsthand the first mission briefing given to our RAAF crews as they began the task of flying urgently needed supplies to the Yazidis seeking refuge on Mount Sinjar. The Leader of the Opposition and indeed everyone on this side of the House continue to be greatly impressed by the professionalism and the courage of our personnel and their insightful analysis of the theatre of operations. The Leader of the Opposition is determined that they be aware of our complete bipartisan support for their efforts and our concern for their wellbeing.

Labor's support for our nation's deployment is based on four principles: firstly, that we are there at the request of the Iraqi government; secondly, that our activities are confined to Iraq; thirdly, that Australian ground combat units are not deployed; and, lastly, that, if the Iraqi security forces engage in unacceptable conduct or the Iraqi government adopts unacceptable policies, then Australia should withdraw its support. We have noted disturbing reports regarding the behaviour of some Iraqi militia groups, and it is our expectation that these reports will be raised with the Iraqi government.

While the people of Syria have been devastated by civil war and the rise of extremist organisations such as Daesh and Jabhat al-Nusra, Labor does not support Australian military involvement in Syria at this time. There is no internationally supported military or political strategy for Syria, and Labor does not believe that Australian military involvement in Syria could successfully provide relief to the humanitarian crisis that is occurring there.

We note that the government is considering a change to the mission and a possible expansion of the troop numbers involved. We await the government's briefing on that matter. These are the principles that will continue to guide Labor's support for Australia's contribution to the international effort against Daesh.

While the international focus is on Daesh, we also recognise our nation's continued commitment to Afghanistan. As the minister has acknowledged, this mission has been the longest military commitment in Australian history. At the end of last year, Operation Slipper, Australia's contribution to the International Security Assistance Force, came to a close. The ADF can be rightly proud of the role they have played in defeating the Taliban and creating a more stable and secure environment to allow the Afghan government to establish itself. In recent years, the Australian contribution in Afghanistan shifted to improving the capability of the Afghan National Security Forces, with an eye to the transition of all security responsibilities to Afghanistan.

It has not come without a cost. Forty-one Australians have lost their lives during this period, and another 261 Australians were wounded. Our thoughts, as always, are with all of our Defence personnel and their families. We will never forget their sacrifices in serving Australia. Four Australian personnel who served in Afghanistan received the Victoria Cross, and many more Australians have been recognised for their service in other ways. Australia continues to have some 400 ADF personnel deployed in Afghanistan as part of Operation Highroad. Taking training and mentoring roles, they continue to make a vital contribution to building Afghanistan's future capability.

We should also not forget the ongoing efforts being made by our service men and women in peacekeeping and maritime security roles in the Middle East. They continue to have success, particularly in disrupting drug-smuggling off the Horn of Africa. This not only impacts on the drug trade; it also stops money flowing into the hands of criminals and terrorists.

Labor, like all Australians, are proud of the Australian Defence Force and the work it is doing in these dangerous and difficult theatres of operation. We acknowledge their sacrifice and their vital contribution to our national security. I thank the House.

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