George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

In June of this year, following the Australian government's decision to refocus its aid program on the Indo-Pacific region and Iraq's ability to fund its own development from oil revenues, the decision was taken to discontinue the development aid budget to Iraq. What I am talking about, Senator Rhiannon, is humanitarian assistance to that part of the world. I can assure you that the humanitarian assistance which Australia is providing to the people of northern Iraq is something of which they are desperately in need. The common view of the region and the common view of the world, except that little corner carved out of the world and occupied by the Australian Greens, believe that the people of northern Iraq are entitled to humanitarian intervention and that is what we mean to do.