House Hansard 22-May-2007 Page 121

Question

Mr McClelland (Barton) asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in writing, on 29 March 2007:

(1): What is his response to comments made by the outgoing United States (US) military commander in Iraq, General George Casey, on 2 January 2007 that “the longer we in the US forces continue to bear the main burden of Iraq’s security, it lengthens the time that the government of Iraq has to make hard decisions about reconciliation and dealing with the militias. And the other thing is that they can continue to blame us for all of Iraq’s problems, which are at base their problems”?
(2): Has the Australian Government indicated to the Iraqi Government that Australia’s commitment of troops to that country is not open-ended and unconditional; if so what conditions, if any, have been placed on Australia’s ongoing military assistance to Iraq?
(3): Has a timeframe been identified within which the Iraqi Government is required to meet those conditions?

Answer

Mr Downer (Mayo—Minister for Foreign Affairs)—The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

(1): The goal of the Multinational Force in Iraq is to build the capacity of the Iraqi security forces so that they can assume primary responsibility for security operations. Importantly, security in four provinces has been transferred to Iraqi control (al-Muthanna, Dhi Qar, Najaf and Maysan).
(2): and (3) The Australian Government has consistently said that withdrawal from Iraq will be conditions not calendar based. As the Government has said, Australia will continue its presence in Iraq to assist bringing about a situation where the Iraqi people are reasonably able to provide for their own future security.