Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Faulkner for his supplementary question. In fact, I can say that Sir Richard subsequently clarified his comments on BBC radio by saying, ‘They were taken largely out of context; we have a responsibility to see this thing through’—they are Sir Richard’s words. He also issued a statement saying:

The point that I’m trying to make is the mere fact that we are still in some places exacerbates violence from those who want to destabilise Iraqi democracy ... We will remain in southern Iraq until the job is done—we’re going to see this through.

Senator Faulkner knows—because I have said so in response to his primary question—that this government takes its responsibilities seriously. We do think that in the circumstances we have an important role and we have a new role. We will not shirk our responsibilities and we will not be leaving until the job is done.