Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

On 14 September the Prime Minister announced that, following a specific request from the United States, Australia would supply 600 personnel, including RAAF aircraft and special forces, to support the coalition force against ISIL. I can inform the Senate that the main contingent of Royal Australian Air Force personnel and aircraft departed for the Middle East recently. The aircraft included FA-18 Super Hornets, a KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport and an E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft. This is in addition to the RAAF C-130 Hercules and C-17A Globemaster already providing humanitarian and logistical support to Iraq. Two humanitarian airdrops were completed on 14 August and 31 August. Australia is deploying a Special Operations task force in a supporting role— (Time expired)