Minister for Defence, Robert Hill addresses the media at the Coalition Press Information Centre in Baghdad. Photo by Cpl Darren Hilder, 1JPAU

Minister in MEAO



DEFENCE Minister Robert Hill took time to convey his support to Australian forces when he visited Iraq recently to meet with Coalition officials.

Senator Hill met with US administrator Paul Bremer and members of the Iraqi Governing Council during his visit but said he had principally come to thank the Australian forces for what they are doing.

"I was last here in April and, of course, new people have been rotated in since then, I want to assure them that what they are doing is important and appreciated by both the Government and the broader community," he told reporters.

When visiting the SECDET troops he spoke of the recent attacks against Coalition forces.

"Obviously it's [the loss of coalition lives] an issue that the Government, thinks about all the time. We want to ensure the circumstances in which our forces operate and the civilians that they protect are as secure as possible."

.