Senator FAULKNER (Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (2:00 PM) —My question is directed to the Leader of the Government, Senator Hill, representing the Prime Minister. Is the minister aware that members of the audience at the candidates' forum in Bondi, at which Mr Turnbull spoke on Monday this week, swear that he said, `History will judge Bush's invasion of Iraq as an unadulterated error'? Is the minister aware that Mr Turnbull has now denied making such a statement and has issued a clarification? Is it true that the Prime Minister's office demanded the retraction and clarification from Mr Turnbull? Isn't the Turnbull incident just another illustration of the Howard government's complete intolerance of dissent?

Senator HILL (Minister for Defence) —I have to confess that I have heard a number of interpretations of what was said at this candidates' meeting. I heard a journalist—I think it was from the Bondi Courier—this morning expressing his—

Senator Faulkner —Was it the Wentworth Courier?

Senator HILL —I don't think it was the Wentworth Courier.

Senator Faulkner —Well, there is no Bondi Courier.

Senator Robert Ray —The Bondi Bugle.

The PRESIDENT —This is a serious question time. Let's get back to question time. I had a lot of letters and emails yesterday about the behaviour in here, and I just hope that it improves today.

Senator HILL —It is a serious question time, but I do not think it is a serious question. It is certainly not addressing the big issue of the time. I did hear Mr Turnbull saying that he supported the coalition operation in Iraq. This government is proud that Australia joined with coalition partners to address a failure of the Security Council to provide the security that it was intended to provide and to take hard but important decisions to provide the security to which Australians are entitled. So I was pleased to hear that from Mr Turnbull.

I also heard a number of interpretations of how the operation in Iraq will be regarded historically. That is all very interesting, but I do not think it is particularly pertinent to the issue as to whether it was the correct operation to undertake at the time when decisions had to be made. Nobody can confidently judge the determination of history in terms of the outcome for Iraq, which was what was being spoken about. My view—and the government's view—is that not only was it the right decision to take at the time given the threats associated with weapons of mass destruction but also it has given the Iraqi people the opportunity for a better future. They are now rid of one of the most horrible dictators of our generation, someone who we believe was responsible for the deaths of at least 300,000 innocent Iraqis. The Iraqi people are now rebuilding their country, putting in place democratic institutions and giving themselves the chance of a more prosperous and better life. I am certainly pleased they have that opportunity, and I am pleased that Australia has played a part in giving them that opportunity.

Senator FAULKNER —Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I note that the minister—deliberately, I suspect—did not answer the question I asked. Let me ask a supplementary question: Minister, isn't Mr Turnbull's embarrassing backdown just another example of the Howard government's standard operating procedure of demanding retractions and clarifications when anybody dares to differ from the government line, as was typified by the case of AFP Commissioner Keelty? Or perhaps it can just be explained away because, as Mr Downer said in his extraordinary comments a short time ago, `Turnbull is nothing more than just a candidate.' Why don't you now explain to the Senate whether this is just another illustration of the way the Howard government deals with dissent?

Senator HILL (Minister for Defence) —That was a very odd supplementary question, written before listening to the answer, of course. As I said, Mr Turnbull has said that he supported the government's operations in Iraq. On behalf of the government, we are proud of the contribution that has been made by Australia and that we continue to make. We are pleased that the Iraqi people now have a chance for a better future, and we are pleased that the region and the world are a safer place as a result of the coalition's operations.