Alan Griffin (Bruce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak in support of the motion moved by the member for Solomon in acknowledging the service of more than 30,000 Defence Force personnel who have served in the Middle East since 2001. I would also like to, as part of that process, share in the acknowledgement of those who played the ultimate sacrifice for our country—some 40 who lost their lives and some 260 who have been wounded as a result of their service. I also support the sentiment in the remarks made by the Prime Minister at the welcoming home parade of more than 250 troops in Darwin who had returned from their service in Afghanistan's Uruzgan province in commending the services of more than 30,000 Defence Force personnel who have been deployed since 2001.

Australia has played a significant part in the reshaping of Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 and the commencement of Operation Slipper, when the first contingent of special forces troops departed. Since 2001, we have seen an Afghanistan where children—most importantly, young girls—have been able to access education more easily, the media has been made freer, and the most basic access to education and health care have been afforded to women—something that was scarce in Afghanistan under the Taliban.

Afghanistan still remains one of the most dangerous countries on earth and there are still severe problems with poverty, violence and insecurity. This is evident when looking at the dangers so many Afghans faced when carrying out their democratic right to vote in this year's election. However, the efforts of our service men and women should be noted, and they should be congratulated for the work that they have done. They have strived to ensure a brighter future for Afghanistan and they have certainly contributed greatly to the number of successes that have occurred in Afghanistan over the past decade.

I will just give a few examples, because often it is hard to quantify the achievements that have been made when there is so much bad news around. For example, in education, the number of schools has increased from 34 in 2006 to around 200 active schools in 2013, including 26 girls-only schools and 19 co-ed schools. Community based education classes have been established in the most difficult-to-access areas, providing 2,500 children, including more than 500 girls, with access to basic education. Active students are up fivefold from 2006 to 2013, with over 60,000 children attending school, 15 per cent of whom are girls. Five hundred and sixteen students graduated, including 36 girls, in 2012. There are about 1,500 teachers in the province, including 77 female ones—a 15 per cent increase from 2010. And the first university campus in Uruzgan opened in 2011, a branch of the Kandahar University.

Turning to some examples in health: health facilities have increased from nine in 2006 to 29 facilities in 2013, so there are now 29 public healthcare facilities and 322 health posts in operation throughout the province, staffed by 106 healthcare professionals and 493 volunteer community health workers. There is improved maternal health care: up to 80 per cent of women now receive at least one antenatal visit, up from 50 per cent in 2007, and 24 new midwives and 26 nurses have been trained.

So, as we can see, there have been advances. But, as we also concede, in modern Afghanistan it is going to be a difficult row to hoe. But, frankly, having been there and seen the work that our troops have done, I think that they can all be very proud of that work. The professionalism, skill, and empathy and compassion that they have displayed since 2001 in what has been a very dangerous and inhospitable environment is something they can all be very proud of. I had the privilege, as I mentioned, of going to Kandahar and Tarin Kot and also to the base at Al Minhad and seeing firsthand the work that was being done in 2011. Also, in 2012, I had the opportunity to spend a few days on board HMAS Melbourne in the Gulf and to see the work that was being done by our naval forces as part of the multinational force with respect to security in that area. They are all serving and they have all served in the very finest Anzac tradition, and it is something that we should remember and should applaud into the future.

I will pick up on a couple of comments from an earlier speaker. We know that when we send people to war, when we send them into harm's way, they get harmed—we know that. What is really important is that when they come back we acknowledge that service but also encourage them to seek the assistance that they may need. Some people can go through what they have gone through and it will not impact on them greatly, but many will bear the scars into the future. I urge anyone who was part of our forces there who is feeling that they have got problems, to embrace the capacity to get help through government services like DVA. It is a difficult row to hoe for all who face those sorts of challenges, but we as a nation owe them a great debt, and we need to ensure that they get the assistance that they need.

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