Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Lambie, I move:

That, on 1 September 2021, after the publicly indicated completion of current rescue efforts at Kabul Airport, the following matters be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and interim report by 29 November 2021, and a final report by the first parliamentary sitting week in February 2022:

(a) Australia's twenty-year military, diplomatic and development engagement in Afghanistan, with reference to:

(i) our success in achieving the Australian Governments' stated objectives,

(ii) the collapse of the Afghan Government and Afghan National Army, and the Taliban's resurgence and takeover of Kabul, following the withdrawal of coalition troops from Afghanistan,

(iii) the costs of Australia's engagement in Afghanistan,

(iv) the Prime Minister's statement that Australian Government support will not reach 'all that it should' in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of coalition forces from the country;

(b) the adequacy of Australia's preparation for withdrawal from Afghanistan, including:

(i) closure of the embassy,

(ii) the evacuation of Australian citizens, permanent residents and visa holders, and

(iii) decisions relating to evacuation of at risk Afghan nationals and partners and family members of Australian citizens and permanent residents;

(c) how the Australian Government should respond to recent developments in Afghanistan in order to:

(i) protect Australia's national security,

(ii) prevent or mitigate damage to Australia's international reputation, if necessary,

(iii) extend immediate mental health support to Australian defence force personnel and veterans while the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide remains ongoing, and

(iv) protect Australian citizens, visa holders, and Afghan nationals who supported Australian forces, where they remain in Afghanistan; and

(d) any related matters.