Labor has sided with the government in rejecting calls for parliamentary approval of a new Australian military effort in Iraq.Australian defence personnel will within days deliver weapons sourced from eastern Europe to Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State extremists in Iraq's north.

Greens leader Christine Milne on Monday morning moved to suspend the Senate program to debate a motion seeking parliamentary approval for the deployment of troops to Iraq. 'It is time the Australian parliament was brought into this debate,' Senator Milne said.

Labor defence spokesman Stephen Conroy sided with the government, labelling the Greens motion a 'stunt to score cheap political points'. Defence Minister David Johnston said a parliamentary debate would delay the action and put lives at risk just when the Kurdish people needed international support. 'We would not want to see that resistance fail for want of ammunition or other supplies,' Senator Johnston said.

It is unclear how many flights will be needed or whether the supplies will be guarded by armed special forces. Prime Minister Tony Abbott dismissed speculation it could lead to a ground troop deployment. 'What President Obama has said all along - and what I say likewise - is that we are ruling out combat troops on the ground,' Mr Abbott told the Nine Network. Australia would continue to talk to its allies about military involvement 'down the track', but there had been no formal request or decision taken to get further involved, he said.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who will meet European leaders in Wales to discuss Iraq later this week, said the international coalition had a clear goal 'to contain and ultimately eliminate' the Islamic State organisation and its leadership. While Senator Johnston would not confirm the use of special forces, he said: 'We will take every single precaution to make sure our people are as safe as they can be.'

Speaking before the start of the Greens motion debate, the prime minister dismissed concerns that parliament was not consulted about Australia's involvement. He says 'standard procedure' is for the national security committee of cabinet to consider the matter, then the full cabinet. The opposition leader is also consulted. 'As far as I'm concerned, it always will be thus,' Mr Abbott said.

Senator Milne told parliament few Australians believed Mr Abbott had a clear plan for the Iraq mission. Independent MP Andrew Wilkie said it was 'insane' that the power to approve military action rested with the prime minister and his senior ministers. 'It should be debated in the parliament and the evidence presented, hard evidence presented, so people can make a considered decision,' Mr Wilkie told ABC radio.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said earlier that Labor supported the government's decision to contribute to 'a remarkable act of international co-operation' to assist communities in Iraq with humanitarian relief and weaponry.

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2014/09/01/govt-and-labor-reject-deba...

'It should be debated in the parliament and the evidence presented, hard evidence presented, so people can make a considered decision,' Mr Wilkie told ABC radio.

The national security council (NSC), ASIO, the defence chiefs, the Prime Minister's national security adviser - all these people (and probably more) weigh in on issues such as this and present the facts to the PM of the day. Mr Wilkie would have us believe that no "considered decisions" could be made on any issue relating to the use of our defence force without first running it past him. I've got news for you, Mr Wilkie - you now have about as much influence as the Parliament House janitor since Abbott absolutely beat the living daylights out of Labor almost a year ago. Same goes for you, Christine. Both of you need to pull your heads in!

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 1^st, 2014 at 12:57pm:


The greens support Islam even when muslims go on a rampage beheading the infidels along with enslaving women and children and stealing the wealth of those who were killed/enslaved

The dopey morally bankrupt Greens hurl slurs like Islamophobe at anyone who is critical of Islamic ideology, of course they support the Islamic state.

Quote:


The Greens reckon anyone who is critical of the Islamic state must be an Islamophobe

So the whole budget emergency thing turned out to be another Abbott lie?

If not...how can we afford to give money to Muslims on the other side of the globe while our own govt is cutting basic education, health and pension funding to its own people?

Armchair_Politician wrote on Sep 1^st, 2014 at 3:40pm:


I think you'll find that the yanks have plenty of planes, personnel and money while we are facing the biggest budget crises in our history...well thats what Abbott and Hockey are saying

Another thread armpit?

Phemanderac wrote on Sep 1^st, 2014 at 4:17pm:


That is correct.  A serious part of the Kurd military is a mob called PKK ~ 5,000 - 6,000 strong which has been declared as a terrorist group and to supply them is an offence against Australian Law.  The stupid contrivance Abbott is using to (seemingly) avoid that is this business about personal delivery ~ as if some digger is going to know whether the Arab he is handing weapons over to is PKK or not.

'Are you PKK.'

'Nah.'

'Bewdy.  Here ya go.'

sir prince duke alevine wrote on Sep 1^st, 2014 at 4:19pm:


I tried that Alevine.  Failed to get any interest from FD or the Mods even though it is up there ^^^^^^ in lights that FD does not want these absurd duplications.