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

Mr President, the coalition government in the Netherlands has collapsed, as I am sure senators know, following disagreement between the two major parties about future military commitments in Afghanistan. It will be several months before a new government is in place. Given these developments, we anticipate the Dutch will proceed to relinquish leadership in Oruzgan and draw down their military forces from August this year. As I have previously said, Australia will not assume leadership in Oruzgan. The Dutch are close and valued partners of Australia in Oruzgan province, and we would welcome a continued Dutch commitment in Oruzgan. But I stress: this is a matter for the Dutch themselves. The ISAF leadership in Oruzgan province is a NATO responsibility and NATO is resolving this issue in continuing consultation with Australia.