Sending troops into conflict must be a decision for Parliament, not the PM

Indeed, the costs of that war and all 20th century wars continue to this day, in physical and psychological damage, in the broken lives and broken families of too many veterans.

That is why it is so important that we repeatedly make the point that we support the troops presently involved in the war on Iraq, and we must support them when they return. We must let them talk and we must listen, and we must always remember that they have shown a willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice for this nation. It is not fair to ask them to also determine Government policy.

In support of this Bill, the example provided is that of the current war on Iraq. This is also a much more pronounced example of the Executive, and in effect the Prime Minister, making a decision to commit troops to overseas conflict, without the support of the Parliament or of the people of Australia.

It is the Democrats belief that this war is unwise, immoral and illegal under international law. Even if we were to believe the government's case that this war is legal, it would set a precedent that makes it easier and therefore more likely for governments to go to war.

The fact that the government is pursing a doctrine of pre-emptive strike makes this Bill all the more important.

In March last year the PM - while in London - reportedly stated his belief that the Australian public would support extending our involvement in the war on terrorism to other theatres such as Iraq.

The Democrats first questioned the Minister for Defence that month - 12 months ago - about Australia's potential involvement in a war on Iraq. We called, as long ago as May and June of last year, for full Parliamentary debates on this issue and for there to be a conscience vote on any deployment or involvement of Australian troops. We have since then asked many questions and moved many motions, some of which got ALP support, some - for example our motion in August to refer the matter to the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee for inquiry - that the ALP would not support.

It took until 17 September 2002 until the Foreign Affairs Minister put a statement on Iraq to the Parliament for debate, and it was not until 4 February this year that the Prime Minister stepped forward and made a statement to the Parliament.

That statement did not make the case for the extreme action of committing Australia to war.

By the time the Prime Minister made his statement to the Parliament in February, he had already offered up the use of Pine Gap and Australian facilities and ports to US warships. Then he offered up our troops.

He effectively handed over the decision of whether Australia would go to war to someone that no Australian voted for - US President George Bush.

All the time the government continued to deny that they had committed us to war. Despite the fact they had already drawn up the Budget - which they refuse to disclose, admitting only that the deployment - not the war but the deployment alone - would cost "some hundreds of millions of dollars". The Treasurer now claims that the entire war will cost "several hundred million dollars". I will be surprised if it in fact costs under one billion dollars.