John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

ISAF’s chief of the election taskforce, Australian Brigadier Damian Cantwell, who has been overseeing election security, expects about 6,500 polling stations to open and 85 to 90 per cent of Afghan voters to be able to vote, with only those in Taliban dominated areas unable to vote. There is no doubt that Taliban intimidation will reduce this turnout. However, the security arrangements in place and the domestic and international support which has been provided will minimise the disruption and protect the Afghan people as they exercise their democratic right. With ISAF troops in support of the Afghan National Security Forces, there are almost 300,000 personnel involved in security support for the—(Time expired)