Mr HUNT (2:27 PM) —Mr Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Would the minister inform the House of the likely broader geopolitical implications of the action in Iraq and in particular the prospect for a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Mr DOWNER (Minister for Foreign Affairs) —First, I thank the honourable member for Flinders for his question and recognise the very great interest he shows in these issues. I recognise his support and indeed the support that all members on this side of the House gave to the coalition of the willing in its endeavour to disarm the Iraqi regime and to liberate the people of Iraq. It is early days but I think it is possible to draw some conclusions about the likely impact of the extraordinarily successful campaign in Iraq. The military campaign, first and foremost, has removed a deadly threat, a key supporter of terrorism and a proliferator of weapons of mass destruction. The conflict underlined how seriously the United States and its allies treat the twin threats to international security posed by the spread of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism. This is a fundamentally important question.

Countries pursuing weapons of mass destruction or lending support to terrorists now have a much clearer illustration of the United States and its allies' determination to act and the possible consequences of dangerous pursuits. The United States has rightly shown a determination to press for outcomes which will, in the end, preserve our common peace and security. That is not to say that the United States will deal with the different manifestations of these threats in the same manner as it has dealt with them in the case of Iraq—and it is important to understand that and not to draw false conclusions—but the United States is determined to use its weight to achieve a positive outcome in difficult circumstances.

As the Prime Minister mentioned earlier, and as the member for Flinders also suggested in his question, the United States is now putting a great deal of emphasis and weight into endeavouring to resolve the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is doing this through a sustained diplomatic effort. The United States does that with the full support, I know, of so many people around the world, including in this country, and with the support of our government.

The United States is capitalising on the new realities created by the successful military campaign in Iraq to address threats to security. For example—and these are very important points—in the aftermath of the campaign in Iraq, Syria has shown a new responsiveness to the concerns of countries like ours, the United States, of course, and others regarding terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. It is interesting that Syria also, after a certain degree of hesitation, has decided not to give sanctuary to Iraqi regime figures trying to flee from the coalition in Iraq. Iran has also assured us of its determination to play a constructive role in post-conflict Iraq, and there are indications of renewed discussions within Iran of finding common ground with the United States.

With the removal of the threat of Saddam Hussein, the United States has also been able dramatically to wind back its military presence in Saudi Arabia. I think the tragic bombings that took place this morning—possibly carried out by al-Qaeda or a related organisation—illustrate the importance of the United States and Saudi Arabia working together to defeat terrorism, because in that area there is still a good deal of work to be done. I note with great interest the recent comments of the foreign minister of Qatar, indicating that his country is considering a peace treaty with Israel.

So the campaign in Iraq has begun a process of dramatic change in the Middle East. Recent actions by regional states and key powers have demonstrated a renewed willingness to work towards positive outcomes in the region. I will be visiting Iraq and a number of other countries in the region between 21 and 26 May, and it will be an opportunity for us to very directly have an input into what we think are desirable outcomes in the Middle East. But I do not think you can dismiss lightly the very substantial argument that what has happened in Iraq has sent a resounding message, not just through the Middle East but around the world, and has generated a much more positive atmosphere in the Middle East, which I think can help lead to the resolution of that terrible and long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict.