Kerry Nettle (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I want to make a few brief comments about the statement on Afghanistan that was made in the House of Representatives three weeks ago. We had the opportunity in Senate estimates to ask for more details, which were not outlined in the statement, about the form of the new troop deployment to Afghanistan. In Senate estimates I asked a number of questions concerning the new troops’ engagement in combat and what weapons they will carry. It was quite clear that the new troops, who are described in the statement as trainers, will be carrying all of the same equipment as would any combat troops going into Afghanistan. I also asked some questions about what other reconfigurations would need to be made to the existing Australian troops in Afghanistan in order to not increase the total number of troops in the country, which is the new government’s stated intention. The Chief of the Defence Force outlined the changes that would need to be made so that there would no longer be an opportunity for two reconstruction forces to be operating, but that one reconstruction force would operate.

With this statement, what we are seeing in relation to troops in Afghanistan is a reduction in troops carrying out reconstruction activities and an increase in combat troops in the country. It is worth making clear that that is the consequence of the ministerial statement we are looking at here: a reduction in reconstruction activities and an increase in combat activities in Afghanistan.

Question agreed to.