Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator McKenzie very much for her question. After what has been an extended period of extremist and terrorist activity in Iraq, in the past few months the Iraqi security forces have won a number of decisive victories and have now liberated more than 90 per cent of the territory that was once held by Daesh. Indeed, following the liberation of Mosul in July, the momentum against Daesh has continued to increase. Just at the end of August, the Iraqi security forces, with the support of the membership of the international coalition, liberated the strategic city of Tal Afar, which is west of Mosul. But the liberation of Mosul and Tal Afar doesn't mean that Daesh is defeated. They still retain other strongholds that need to be liberated. These include the town of Hawija and towns in the Euphrates river valley near the border with Syria.

In Syria itself, more than 60 per cent of Raqqa, their self-proclaimed capital, has been liberated by Syrian Democratic Forces. However, Daesh continue to use what are barbaric and illegal tactics to slow their inevitable defeat. As we saw in Mosul, they are again preventing civilians from leaving and they are using them as human shields. Recently in Raqqa, they used a children's hospital as a fortified headquarters.

The stabilisation efforts in Mosul and in Tel Afar are ongoing and they will take some time. The re-establishment of both institutions and essential services are critical to ensure that residents are able to begin to rebuild their lives. This has been a particular focus of the counter-ISIL defence ministers' meetings that have occurred in relation to progress. Australia's commitment to the coalition continues and we will continue to support Iraq and its security forces so that they can defeat Daesh, keep their people safe, defend themselves from hostile foreign interference and maintain territorial sovereignty. (Time expired)