Mal Washer (Moore, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Minister for Defence. Would the minister update the House on the role of Australian troops in Iraq and their vital contribution to rebuilding the economic and social infrastructure in the province of Al Muthanna?

Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Moore for his question and very strong support for the global fight against terrorism and the support of democracy in Iraq. Yesterday the nationally democratically elected Prime Minister of Iraq made an announcement which represents a significant milestone in the move towards democracy in Iraq. Prime Minister Maliki announced that the first province in Iraq which will transfer entirely to provincial Iraqi control will be that of Al Muthanna.

The Australian Defence Force currently has some 1,350 of its personnel, of whom we are very proud, across the theatre of Iraq, from the security detachment in Baghdad through to the North Arabian Gulf in one of our Anzac class frigates, conducting surveillance flights with P3C Orions, heavy airlift in C130 Hercules and a variety of other important roles in Baghdad, including security. We have had 460 soldiers protecting some 600 Japanese engineers in the Al Muthanna province. Over that time our soldiers have done us proud. They have trained around 1,650 Iraqi army soldiers of the 2nd Brigade of the National Iraqi Army. They have also supported a number of very important projects. The member for Moore in particular will be interested in the mobile health clinic. There have also been veterinary clinics, water purification, the restoration of a community centre, the refurbishment of bus stations, the development of an ambulance station, the reconnection of electricity and a whole variety of very important tasks.

I am advised that very shortly we can expect the Japanese Prime Minister and the Japanese defence minister to announce the future of the Japanese engineers in Al Muthanna. Should the Japanese government announce that it will be withdrawing its engineers then the Australian government will redeploy our 460 soldiers to Tallil, which is an American air base just north of the Al Muthanna-Dhi Qar border. They will there undertake training at the basic training centre and further provide training for the Iraqi security forces. They will also—

Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. This is a very serious and significant step, and really it ought to be done with a proper parliamentary statement that parliament can then discuss. You do not make a complete change to the role of Australian defence forces like this without that parliamentary statement. Every time there has been a commitment like this, that has been the case. Frankly, it is a disservice to the troops to make the announcement—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat; he is debating his point of order. The Leader of the Opposition would be aware that it is not for the occupant of the chair to make that decision. There are other forms, if he feels strongly about it. The minister is in order. I call the Minister for Defence.

Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So the government is disposed to having the Australian Defence Force in Al Muthanna provide training from the air base in Tallil. They will also provide further training in support of border protection to the Iraqi security forces in the southern part of Iraq. In addition to that, if the Iraqi security forces, under the direction of the democratically elected Iraqi national government and the provincial government of Al Muthanna, require it, and if the legal, administrative and military arrangements are to the satisfaction of the Australian government, we will provide in extremis support to the Iraqi security forces. This is a very important step and an important milestone in the move to the democratically governed country of Iraq. We are very proud of what our soldiers have done. This job is associated with risk because it is an important job. We are very proud of them and we look forward to further progress in Iraq.

Robert McClelland (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence. Is it the case that the government has characterised Australia’s participation in the war in Iraq as being for, firstly, the search for weapons of mass destruction, then regime change, then protecting the Japanese and now a fourth phase of security overwatch? What intelligence assessments have been made of any additional risks that will be faced by our troops undertaking this new role? Given that it appears the British and Italians are scaling back their involvement in the region, what will be done to ensure our troops have adequate backup, including helicopter and artillery support and, if necessary, medical evacuation capability?

Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Barton for his question. It is very important to Australia and to Australians that stability be brought to the Middle East. It is also extremely important that we appreciate that the war against terrorism is a global activity. It is not confined to our borders or to our region.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The opposition has asked a question; the minister is answering it.

Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Terrorist activity in Iraq and in countries in the Middle East has everything to do with Australia and the next generation of Australians. The Labor Party cannot on the one hand celebrate and welcome—

Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order going to relevance. This is where relevance counts. The minister was asked a series of detailed questions on intelligence assessments and what support was going to be offered to the troops. We are entitled to an answer.

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Does the Leader of the Opposition want a response to his point of order?

Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Beazley interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition might stop interjecting. The Leader of the Opposition raised a point of order. The minister has only just begun his answer. I call the Minister for Defence.

Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As was foreshadowed some months ago, the progress in Iraq is that, having had a democratically elected Iraqi government, where 12 million Iraqis at risk to their lives voted on three occasions, the process in Iraq is to move to provincial Iraqi control. What that means is that the coalition, working with the Iraqi government, including the provincial government, has been working with the British forces, the Iraqi forces and all of those who are in Iraq to negotiate the arrangements under which the Iraqi people will govern themselves and be responsible for their own security. Of course there has been a detailed intelligence and risk assessment undertaken of this, and the Leader of the Opposition of all people should know that under no circumstances do we discuss intelligence issues in a public arena.

Warren Snowdon (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia and Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Snowdon interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Lingiari is warned!

Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I further say to the opposition: you cannot on the one hand—

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The level of interjections is far too high.

Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Incorporated within that question were questions about the state of heavy weapons backup for the Australian soldiers, the security arrangements associated with them—

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Leader of the Opposition will come to his point of order.

Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and there is no answer!

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The Leader of the Opposition will not debate the question. If he wishes to raise a point of order, he may; but he will come straight to his point of order. The minister is relevant. I call the minister.

Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The third most senior operative in al-Qaeda, al-Zarqawi, was killed the week before last. That was news that was welcomed by the Leader of the Opposition. You cannot on the one hand argue that the fight against terrorism should not be undertaken in Iraq and then welcome the outcome of the heavy lifting being done by the rest of the world. The Leader of the Opposition is no more than the bloke at the back of the tandem bike who does not—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Julia Irwin (Fowler, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Go and have a blood pressure tablet!

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Fowler is warned! Has the minister completed his answer?

Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.