Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Brown would be aware that we have very close defence links with the United States of America, and I am sure, without being privy to the planned agenda for talks between Prime Minister Gillard and President Obama, there will no doubt be a focus on those defence links in any conversations held. Clearly, I think Afghanistan would be one of those issues discussed. As you know, both the defence minister and the foreign affairs minister work closely with our American counterparts on issues of joint interest, and clearly our mission in Afghanistan is one of those. The USA remains committed to the same objectives as we do in Afghanistan, and that is particularly, as I say, focused on making sure Afghanistan does not again become a base for terrorists to recruit and train and to launch attacks against our— (Time expired)