Julie Bishop - Member for Curtin

Prime Minister must clarify comments regarding Afghanistan

Details

Published on Friday, 20 April 2012 02:58

The Prime Minister must explain why the Defence Minister and the Foreign Affairs Minister have been forced to contradict the clear impression she gave this week that Australian troops would be withdrawn earlier than previously expected from Afghanistan.
 
It is deeply troubling to read reports that concerns have been raised about the Prime Minister’s statements during meetings overnight in Brussels between Australia's Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministers and other members of the International Security Assistance Force.
 
These reports indicate that concerns were raised by the governments of the United States, United Kingdom and Germany.
 
This indicates that the Prime Minister did not consult with other nations involved in Afghanistan before she gave the speech this week.
 
It is critical that consistent messages are provided by the members of the ISAF regarding troop deployments and other matters so that confidence in ongoing military operations is not undermined.
 
In addition, it is important that the Taliban and other insurgents in Afghanistan are not encouraged by any reporting of differing opinions within the ISAF.
 
The Prime Minister must explain why officials from the United States, United Kingdom and Germany have raised concerns about her speech, what prior consultations were undertaken with other members of the ISAF before she gave her speech and whether every aspect of her speech is consistent with the views of the Australian Defence hierarchy.