Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) the Government has committed a further 300 troops to the war in Iraq, in addition to the special forces and air force personnel already deployed,

(ii) this increase in troop numbers was announced by the Prime Minister of New Zealand (Mr Key), rather than our own Prime Minister (Mr Abbott),

(iii) neither the Australian Parliament, nor the Australian people, were consulted about the major increase in Australian soldiers in Iraq, and

(iv) the latest polling from Essential Research shows That the majority of Australians disapprove of sending more Australian soldiers to Iraq; and

(b) calls on the Australian Government to:

(i) support legislation that enables the Parliament to decide when Australian troops are deployed overseas, and

(ii) outline the support framework it has in place to support both the mental and physical health needs of returning service men and women.