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

I recently tasked Defence to provide updated advice on the time frame for our mission. CDF has advised me that, on the basis of solid progress in our training efforts to date, Defence now estimates that within two to four years we will be able to transition the main security responsibility for the province to the Afghan National Army. On completion of our training mission, I expect that we will adjust our force levels as the ADF training mission transitions into an overwatch role. Our troops, of course, performed this role in Iraq for some 12 months. While this is the best advice I can provide the Senate, timing the transition of security to the Afghan national security forces of course depends on the conditions that apply on the ground at the time.