Greens ask when troops will return

July 31, 2004

DEFENCE Minister Robert Hill should tell Australians how long the Federal Government intends to keep defence personnel in Iraq, Greens leader Bob Brown said today.

Senator Brown said the troops were in Iraq at the behest of the White House and should be brought home immediately.

He was reacting to Senator Hill’s announcement of changes to the Australian Defence Force arrangements in Iraq, which did not amount to an alteration in the overall number serving with the US-led coalition there.

The changes include the return of air traffic controllers to Australia next month, a six-month extension of the Iraq Army training team’s term, deployment of a small medical team and a small, new air traffic control team deployment.

"I predict Prime Minister Howard will increase Australia’s deployment after the election," Senator Brown said in a statement.

"The Government should tell Australian voters exactly what its Iraq plans are for the next three years in terms of money, personnel and politics."