Helen Coonan (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) Share this | Hansard source

Absolutely. We have often spoken in this chamber about the importance and relevance of the Australian troop commitments. Australia, as I said last week in answer to a question, is committed to staying in Iraq until the Iraqi security forces no longer require our support. The government decided in August to extend our troop commitments until 30 June 2008. It is important that we stay and that we get the job done. Our coalition partners have expressed their strong appreciation for Australia’s very valuable contribution. The ongoing presence of Australia and other members of the coalition in Iraq is at the request of the government in Iraq and we certainly do not intend to leave until that particular job is done.