With reference to the decision by the President of the United States of America (US), George W Bush, to send an additional 21 500 troops to Iraq and the Prime Minister’s public response on 11 January 2006:

(1)   To what was the Prime Minister referring when he said that Australia would support the move.

(2)   What evidence did Mr Bush provide to the Prime Minister that indicated that these additional troops would achieve victory in the fight against terrorism.

(3)   What were the consequences for the stability of the Middle East to which the Prime Minister was referring.

(4)   Can the Prime Minister guarantee that there will be no impact on Australian troops as a result of this escalation in the deployment of US Armed Forces.

(5)   Why did the Prime Minister not rule out sending more Australian forces to Iraq.

(6)   What are the conditions necessary for a decision to be made to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq.

(1)   I was referring to the new initiative announced by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki and United States President George W. Bush which outlined an Iraq-led, United States-supported plan that places an increased emphasis on restoring security and the Iraqi government taking greater responsibility for the country’s security and general affairs. The plan also presents an increased diplomatic and political effort to: help encourage political progress and economic growth; engage moderate political forces in Iraq and the region; and to isolate extremists and defeat terrorists.

(2)   The details of the discussion are confidential.

(3)   Iraq is an active battleground in the international fight against terrorism. A premature withdrawal of Coalition forces from Iraq would have significant ramifications throughout the Middle East. Such a withdrawal would not only abandon the Iraqi people, but also serve to undermine many of Iraq’s neighbours, inflame regional sectarian tensions and provide an enormous boost to terrorists throughout the Middle East, as well as in our own region.

(4)   No. The Australian Government is well aware of the significant risks faced by the Australian Defence Force personnel deployed to Iraq, and has sought to minimise these risks by providing them appropriate training, equipment and support. The government constantly reviews the threat level to deployed forces and their force protection; Defence’s advice to the government remains that force protection arrangements for the Overwatch Battle Group (West) in southern Iraq are appropriate.

(5)   The Australian Government regularly reviews the deployment of Australian Defence Force personnel on all operations to ensure force levels and composition best reflect requirements on the ground. I recently announced the deployment of a dedicated logistics team of approximately 50 personnel, together with around 20 additional Army training instructors, to assist the Iraqi Army to assume greater security responsibilities. The Australian Government has no current plans to increase combat troop deployments.

(6)   The Australian Defence Force personnel deployed to Iraq remain at the request of the Iraqi Government and continue to work towards the key Coalition objectives of a stable and secure Iraq. The Australian Government will look to continue providing this contribution until Iraq, as a sovereign independent state, can take responsibility for its own security. Then, as Iraq moves forward, Australia’s commitment can be drawn back.