Troop Deployment to Iraq

Christine Milne moved:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

• (i) the Government has committed a further 300 troops to the war in Iraq, in addition to the special forces and air force personnel already deployed,

• (ii) this increase in troop numbers was announced by the Prime Minister of New Zealand (Mr Key), rather than our own Prime Minister (Mr Abbott),

• (iii) neither the Australian Parliament, nor the Australian people, were consulted about the major increase in Australian soldiers in Iraq, and

• (iv) the latest polling from Essential Research shows That the majority of Australians disapprove of sending more Australian soldiers to Iraq; and

(b) calls on the Australian Government to:

• (i) support legislation that enables the Parliament to decide when Australian troops are deployed overseas, and

• (ii) outline the support framework it has in place to support both the mental and physical health needs of returning service men and women.