Robert McClelland (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence. Is the minister aware of allegations aired on last Wednesday’s SBS Dateline program that it was highly likely that Moqtada al-Sadr’s Mehdi Army recently fired at least five rocket-propelled grenades at Australian troops on patrol in southern Iraq? Given that Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki relies on al-Sadr supporters as a primary political power base, has the Australian government made a formal complaint to Prime Minister al-Maliki regarding his government’s failure to rein in the Mehdi Army, which has threatened the lives of Australian troops?

Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Barton for his question. Yes, I am aware of those allegations. The Australian Defence Force currently has 1,400 troops deployed across the Iraq theatre. We are currently working with 150,000 American troops, with British troops and with the 300,000 people in the Iraqi security forces. Prime Minister al-Maliki, democratically elected by 12 million brave Iraqis, is trying to deal with a very difficult and complex environment in Iraq. Part of that complexity is the religious tension between the Shia, the Sunni and the Kurds. It also involves terrorist elements that are seeking to foment violence within the country. Moqtada al-Sadr, of course, is one of the key players within Iraq. We also have fomenting of violence to some extent from some of the neighbouring countries. I can tell the member for Barton that one of the things that this government is very committed to is seeing that we will remain in Iraq. When I was in Baghdad, Prime Minister al-Maliki said, ‘You, Australia, were with us from the start,’ and I said to him, ‘And we will be there supporting you, your government and your troops to support a democracy—

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

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I go to relevance: the question was quite explicit. It asked whether or not the minister had intervened with Iraq’s government to seek their support against attacks on Australian soldiers.

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

I am listening carefully to the Minister for Defence, and I believe his answer is relevant to the question.

Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australia is committed to seeing that we will remain in Iraq to support the Iraqi government, the Iraqi security forces and our coalition partners until Iraq is in a position to cater for its own security. It is also important that the Leader of the Opposition and the Labor Party appreciate—

Julia Irwin (Fowler, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mrs Irwin interjecting

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

Order! The member for Fowler is warned!

Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

that what our troops are doing in Al Muthanna and Dhi Qar, based in Tallil, amongst many, many other things, includes constant day-to-day, week-to-week contact with—

Roger Price (Chifley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Price interjecting

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

Order! The Chief Opposition Whip is warned!

Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

the provincial governors in those two provinces, constant contact with tribal leaders, negotiation of security arrangements and training of Iraqi security forces. It also means in part that we provide security assistance to the Iraqis when they need it. The one thing we will not do is what the Leader of the Opposition has said. The Leader of the Opposition has said that, on day one—

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

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The question raised the issue of Moqtada al-Sadr’s activities against our troops. He is part of the coalition. What have you done?

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

Order! The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat. The question raised a number of issues, including rocket attacks and Australian troops, and the minister is in order. Has the minister completed his answer?

Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

One thing this government will not do, which we have communicated to the Iraqi government, the democratically elected government, is that we will not prematurely leave Iraq—

Sharon Bird (Cunningham, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Bird interjecting

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

Order! The member for Cunningham is warned!

Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

demand that our allies and our coalition partners do our heavy lifting for us—

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! The minister will resume his seat.

Maria Vamvakinou (Calwell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Vamvakinou interjecting

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

The member for Calwell will remove herself under standing order 94(a).

The member for Calwell then left the chamber.

Sharon Bird (Cunningham, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Bird interjecting

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

And the member for Cunningham will remove herself under standing order 94(a).

The member for Cunningham then left the chamber.

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

When the Speaker is on his feet members will remain silent.

Graham Edwards (Cowan, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary (Defence and Veterans' Affairs)) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes—show a bit of respect for the members!

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

The member for Cowan will remove himself under standing order 94(a) too.

The member for Cowan then left the chamber.

Brendan Nelson (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If the government were to take the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, we would not be in a position to deal directly with Prime Minister al-Malaki about reining in Moqtada al-Sadr and the Mehdi Army.

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

Mr Speaker, I raise a point of order: he did not answer the question he was asked.

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

The Leader of the Opposition will resume his seat.