Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I would be very happy for the government and opposition to agree to a full-scale debate on this matter. We know from the tragic news today from Afghanistan regarding our own defence forces how hugely important this matter is to all Australians. The matter at hand here is a United Nations and Afghan government report that the military of the United States killed at least 90 civilians, including 60 children, in this Afghani village on 21 and 22 August this year.

The motion that I have brought forward echoes the Afghan government’s own call for a full-scale review of the military operations in their country in the wake of the country’s mounting civilian death toll. For want of a debate, this motion will be voted down, I assume, by both the government and the opposition, but what I do say, through you, Deputy President, is that this is an extremely important matter. It is not one we can legislate on but it is one in which Australia is centrally involved. The Greens do not believe our defence forces should be in Afghanistan but, rather, that there should be much greater civilian aid to that country, because of the history of how the Bush administration entered into this conflict, amongst other things. We strongly support this motion. If the government and the opposition are going to oppose motions like this, and this is the right time for it to be brought before the Senate, then I would ask them to open the matter to a full and proper debate.