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

I rise to also acknowledge the debt of gratitude our nation owes to the brave men and women who served in the Persian Gulf in 1990 and 1991. In response to the ministerial statement today by the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, the Hon. Dan Tehan MP, can I also congratulate him on his appointment to this important portfolio, together of course with the portfolio of Defence Materiel.

The opposition, the government and all other members of parliament recognise the significance of commemorating the service and sacrifice of the men and women who serve in our Australian Defence Force. This anniversary comes at a time when we are commemorating a century, and more, of service and sacrifice by Australian service men and women in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations in which Australia has participated.

Nineteen years after Australian military forces withdrew from Vietnam, the Australian government committed forces to serve across the globe in the First Gulf War. The invasion of Kuwait by Iraq on 2 August 1990 led to the formation of a multinational force, from some 30 countries, in order to enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions of the time. Over 1,800 Australian Defence Force personnel were deployed in the First Gulf War from August 1990 to September 1991. The force comprised elements from the Army, Navy and Air Force. In addition, some 75 Australian Defence Force personnel were subsequently deployed to Kurdistan, Northern Iraq, on Operation Habitat from 16 May to 30 June 1991 in the bloody aftermath of the war. The First Gulf War was an important event in Australia's military history which should be acknowledged for its significance, both diplomatically and strategically.

On 2 August 1990 Iraq invaded its rival oil-exporting neighbour Kuwait. The invasion was widely condemned, and four days later the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved a trade embargo against Iraq. A blockade of Iraq's access to the sea followed within weeks, as the United States led and assembled a large multinational task force in the Persian Gulf, and brought follow-up forces into Saudi Arabia. At its peak the coalition forces in the First Gulf War numbered some 950,000 troops from some 30 countries; although, the United States remained the dominant partner in the coalition.

In November 1990 the UN Security Council set 15 January 1991 as the deadline for an Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait. Iraq failed to comply with that deadline, and as a consequence coalition forces began an air bombardment of Iraqi targets across both Iraq and occupied Kuwait. Within four days, coalition forces destroyed the Iraqi invading forces and drove the remnants out of Kuwait; although, the Iraqis retained significant military strength intact in Iraq, as subsequent events were to demonstrate. The air bombardment continued without respite until the war ended 43 days later.

On 24 February 1991, after more than a month of air attacks, the coalition's ground forces moved against Iraqi positions in Kuwait and in Iraq itself. The magnitude and decisiveness of these strikes destroyed what was left of Iraq's capacity to resist. Remarkably, there were some 116,000 air sorties flown during this conflict. After two days of air strikes, Baghdad radio announced that Iraq's armed forces had been ordered to withdraw from Kuwait to the positions they had occupied before August 1990. Two days after this order was given, the coalition ceased hostilities and declared victory. Coalition losses amounted to 166 killed, many by friendly fire. At least 100,000 Iraqis had been killed in this conflict and another 71,000 were captured—a decisive defeat of Iraq's military.

Australia was one of the first nations to join the coalition force. Australian forces were deployed under the auspices of the United Nations. Three Australian warships conducted blockade operations in the Persian Gulf. Australia also provided a supply vessel, four medical teams and a mine clearance diving team that joined a protective screen, under US operational control, around aircraft-carrier battle groups in the gulf.

The Royal Australian Navy provided vessels for the multinational naval force, which formed an interception force in the Persian Gulf to enforce the UN sanctions. The RAN presence included two frigates and the replenishment ship HMAS Success, which, having no air defences of its own, relied on the army's 16th Air Defence Regiment. In January 1991 the replenishment tanker HMAS Westralia left Fremantle, Western Australia, to relieve Success. Four warships, HMAS Sydney (IV), HMAS Adelaide, HMAS Brisbane, and HMAS Darwin, also served tours of duty in the Persian Gulf. During the operational phase of their deployment, they formed part of an anti-aircraft screen for the carrier battle groups of the US Navy. A RAN diving team was also despatched for explosive ordnance and demolition tasks.

In addition to naval units, Australian personnel took part on attachment to various British and American ground formations. A small group of Royal Australian Air Force photo interpreters was based in Saudi Arabia, together with a detachment from the Defence Intelligence Organisation. Four medical teams were also despatched at the request of the United States. Although the ships and their crews were in danger from mines and possible air attack, Australia's war was relatively uneventful and there were no casualties.

At the conclusion of hostilities, 75 Australian personnel were sent to northern Iraq to assist in the provision of humanitarian aid to Kurds living in the UN-declared exclusion zone, while ships of the Royal Australian Navy remained on station, at the request of the United States, to enforce UN sanctions.

Several Australian naval officers commanded the multinational interception force. Australia later provided weapons inspectors in Iraq to monitor the discovery and disposal of prohibited nuclear, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction.

The Gulf War provided a number of firsts for the Australian Defence Force. It was the first time that Australia had gone to war under arrangements where it was commanded by a Chief of the Defence Force. The position of Chief of the Defence Force was created after amending Defence legislation and came into effect on 25 October 1984. General Peter Gration AC, OBE served as Chief of the Defence Force from 13 April 1987 to 16 April 1993 and was engaged throughout the campaign in providing direction and guidance as well as visiting the theatre of operations. Further, HMAS Westralia made naval history during this conflict carrying into the war seven women—two of them officers—for the first time.

In November 1991, HMAS Sydney and HMAS Brisbane received a Meritorious Unit Citation for:

… meritorious operational service in the Persian Gulf during enforcement of sanctions in support of United Nations Security Council Resolutions and the subsequent period of hostilities against Iraq to liberate Kuwait in 1990–91.

It is important that we acknowledge the commitment and professionalism Australian Defence Force personnel displayed in providing support to our allies who fought for the freedoms we all experience today, in maintaining an international rules based order and in enforcing the resolve of the United Nations. Importantly, while all of our service men and women arrived home safely and no Australian lives were lost in the First Gulf War, our coalition partners did lose members of their armed forces, and we remember them today.

Although the dawn service in Gallipoli, in April last year, was central to the significant commemorative events, there are, of course, many other important dates to commemorate over the four-year centenary period, including Armistice Day in 2018. And in 2016, we mark 100 years since Australia's entry into the battle of the Western Front.

On 19 July 1916, the Australians attacked at Fromelles, with disastrous results. The Australians suffered a shocking 5,500 casualties—our greatest losses in a single day. It was a harsh lesson about the scale and intensity of warfare on the Western Front. Four days later, Australians went into action on the Somme, attacking and capturing Pozieres. Under heavy bombardment, casualties grew in those first days and in subsequent weeks, eventually totalling some 23,000. Pozieres ridge 'is more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth'. Fighting continued on the Somme through the autumn mud and a bitterly cold winter. Australian casualties continued to mount and the men's health deteriorated in those conditions.

Every town in Australia has its own story and its own personal connection to the terrible events of the First World War. Community participation is the way to ensure that the Anzac legacy is passed to the next generation. The Anzac Centenary Program continues to offer every Australian electorate the opportunity to commemorate the extraordinary sacrifice our Anzacs and the community as a whole made at the local level. We welcome the minister's update on the commemorations planned for the Anzac Centenary.

This year also marks the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan. On 18 August 1966 the Battle of Long Tan was fought, primarily by Delta Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, some 108 men, supported by other Australian Task Force elements and a force of up to 2,500 from the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army.

Starting in the afternoon, the Battle of Long Tan was fought in a rubber plantation and lasted until the early morning of 19 August. Remarkably, the Australian forces were able to repel continuing enemy assaults and, in so doing, they inflicted very heavy losses on the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army. The use of armour and supporting artillery enabled that handful of men to defeat that much greater force and, in so doing, they protected the Australian base at Nui Dat from what was intended by the enemy to be an overwhelming attack aimed at overrunning that base. It was, arguably, the most significant battle of the Vietnam War for Australian forces. In that battle, 18 Australian soldiers died and a further 24 were wounded. I have had the privilege to tour that battlefield and be shown it by a veteran. It is a remarkable military accomplishment for this nation.

Deputy Speaker Mitchell, as you appreciate and as everyone in this place comprehends, the Vietnam War took a very heavy toll on our nation. As ever, the Australian soldiers serving in Vietnam upheld the very high standards of the Anzac tradition, and they remained faithful to one another and to their duty to their nation, a nation that had sent them into harm's way.

Today we stop to mark the 25th anniversary of Australia's involvement in the First Gulf War. Our sailors, soldiers and airmen upheld the very high standards of the Anzac tradition, and did themselves and our nation proud. As we commemorate a century of service of Australian men and women, we reflect upon the Anzac values of mateship, courage, sacrifice, loyalty and resilience, and on how those values are upheld by members of the Australian Defence Force today.

I thank the minister for his update and I thank all those who have ensured, and who will continue to ensure, that our community appropriately reflects on its history and our future as a nation and the values that will take this country forward. I thank all those who have served and sacrificed for their country. I thank the House.

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