Andrew Wilkie (Clark, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Last week, Turkey launched an unlawful attack on Kurdish held territory in north-east Syria. Since then, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been displaced from their homes and at least 30 people have been killed, including young children. The decision by the United States to withdraw troops from the border, giving President Erdogan a green light to invade, is set to trigger a further humanitarian and geopolitical disaster in a region that has already suffered an eight-year war. Add in US nuclear weapons and sanctions as bargaining chips, and the escape of ISIS prisoners, and we face a dreadful situation.

Despite all of this, the response from Canberra has been pitiful. Although Trump's decision has been condemned not only by the international community but also by his own political party, our government still cannot manage a single word of criticism. That's simply not good enough. Remember that Kurdish forces have been a crucial ally for the United States and the West in the battle against ISIS. They were also at a critical point in their long and bloody fight for self-determination and autonomy. But now they've been betrayed by the erratic US President, who again shows he has no regard for the consequences of his actions. The government must condemn Trump's decision, stand up to Turkey and make it clear that this illegal invasion is absolutely unacceptable.

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