Helen Kroger (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Chair of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, Senator Eggleston, I present the report on Australia's overseas development programs in Afghanistan, together with a Hansardrecord of proceedings, documents presented to the committee, additional information and submissions.

Ordered that the report be printed.

by leave—I move:

That the Senate take note of the report.

Question agreed to.

If I could just make a couple of very brief comments. This was an inquiry that took place over quite a period of time. There was a significant number of submissions and a number of hearings that took evidence. It was particularly interesting because Australia has focused on investing in a lot of aid in Afghanistan since 2001, in helping with the reconstruction of many areas of Afghanistan and, in particular, investing a lot of those funds in the Reconstruction Task Force Fund. It was a particularly interesting inquiry, largely because of the number of projects that the Australian Defence Force have directly been involved in. It is one that I commend senators to have a look at. I seek leave to continue my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.