Kim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a question for you, Mr Speaker. I ask whether you could secure, or use your good offices to secure, a statement from the Minister for Defence in this place about picking up the materiels, as requested of him by the opposition defence spokesman. Are you aware, Mr Speaker, that when it was announced we were going to Al Muthanna province, it was made quite clear that, if our troops were in trouble, they would have access to British divisional assets in Basra, like artillery, helicopters and tanks. The question that was asked, as you would be aware, Mr Speaker—what was sought from the Minister for Defence—was not a request for actual intelligence but the detail of an assessment on risk and, given that the British and the Italians were withdrawing and there was a materiel possibility—and if there is a materiel possibility, this is a more dangerous situation—what sorts of divisional assets they now have access to in relation to helicopter and artillery support and, if necessary, medical evacuation capability. It is pretty unusual for a substantial commitment to be made in a conflict situation without an accompanying parliamentary statement.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the Prime Minister wish to respond to that?

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I call the Prime Minister.

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to inform the House of two things: during question time the Japanese Prime Minister, as has been widely foreshadowed, made a statement to the effect that the Japanese engineers were being withdrawn—as has been widely predicted—and it is my intention to make a statement to the House about the redeployment of the Australian forces on Thursday. In accordance with the normal custom of the parliament, the Leader of the Opposition will have an answer in reply.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Prime Minister. I believe that response would cover the leader’s request.