Day, Date Month 2003
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Tuesday, 13 May 2003
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53/2003
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DISARMAMENT OF IRAQ
The Howard Government has committed an extra
$645 million over three years to cover the estimated costs of the pre-deployment
of ADF elements to the Middle East, Australia’s contribution to coalition military
operations to disarm Iraq (Operations Bastille and Falconer) and stabilisation
and recovery operations (Operation Catalyst).
Defence Minister Robert Hill said Australia
had made an important contribution to combat operations and was now providing
specialist assistance to help stabilise and rehabilitate Iraq so that the Iraqi
people can receive the full benefits of their liberation.
Senator Hill said the decision to deploy about
2000 Australian Defence Force personnel had clearly been in Australia’s national
interest. It had resulted in a safer global community by contributing to the
elimination of weapons of mass destruction and bringing greater stability to
the Middle East.
"The decisive success of the coalition
operation in Iraq sends a clear message to other rogue states that they cannot
get away with threatening world peace through the development of chemical, biological
and nuclear weapons," Senator Hill said.
"It also underlines the resolve of the
countries concerned to ensure that these terrible weapons do not fall into the
arms of international terrorist organisations."
"Australia’s contribution demonstrated
the outstanding skill, courage and professionalism of the men and women in all
three services and the ADF’s capacity to make a vital contribution to coalition
military operations beyond our own region. It is a performance that all Australians
can be proud of."
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