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Australian government policy - Afghanistan

by Richard Tanter — last modified 04-May-2008 20:11

Official statements of Australian government policy regarding Afghanistan from the 14 September 2001 invocation of ANZUS as applying to the 9.11 attacks on the United States onward.

2008

Why Are Australian Troops in Afghanistan? Peter Mares with Joel Fitzgibbon, ABC, 2008-05-02 [Audio]

Following the death of Lance Corporal Jason Marks in Afghanistan, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says Australia should "steel itself for hight casualties" there. He says the year ahead could be "difficult, dangerous and bloody". So why are Australian troops there; and how long will they stay?

No Extra Troops for Afghanistan, Minister Insists, Tom Allard, SMH, 2008-03-25

"The Defence Minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, says there is no argument "whatsoever" for Australia to increase its troop commitment in Afghanistan, even after it withdraws more than 500 soldiers from southern Iraq. Given the continuing unrest in Australia's immediate region, the Rudd Government wants more troops based here for any crises that may flare closer to home."

2007

More Troops for Afghanistan, Prime Minister, John Howard, Media Release, 10 April 2007

"We have a clear national interest in helping to prevent Afghanistan again becoming a safehaven for terrorists. This decision is also based on the Government's steadfast commitment to helping Afghanistan's democratically elected government create a secure and stable environment in that country.

"Approximately 400 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel are already contributing to a Reconstruction Task Force [RTF] in Oruzgan Province, working closely with Dutch forces to deliver reconstruction and community-based projects. This valuable work includes skills development and engineering projects and helps both to strengthen local capacity and to increase Afghan security.

"The Government believes that it is strongly in the interests of Afghanistan and the international community that these efforts succeed, and therefore that we reinforce our existing presence.

"Accordingly a Special Operations Task Group of about 300 personnel will shortly deploy to Oruzgan province for at least two years. It will operate in direct support of ISAF [International Security Assistance Force] elements in Oruzgan. Its role will be to enhance provincial security by disrupting Taliban extremists' command and control and supply routes. These forces will operate under an Australian commander working within the ISAF framework.

"The Task Group's activities will directly support the Australian Reconstruction Task Force, support the development of the Afghan national security forces and help reinforce the legitimacy of the Afghan Government with the local population.

"The existing RTF Protection Company Group (about 120 personnel) will be extended and will continue to provide close protection to RTF personnel until August 2008.

"An RAAF [Royal Australian Air Force] air surveillance radar capability (about 75 personnel) will deploy to Kandahar Airfield, where it will assume control of a portion of Afghan operational air space from mid-2007.

"Our expanded force in Afghanistan will be supported by additional logistics and intelligence capabilities, the planned return of two Chinook helicopters to Afghanistan in 2008, and the deployment of an additional C-130J Hercules aircraft to the Middle East.

"The total ADF deployment to Afghanistan will reach approximately 950 by mid-2007 and will peak at approximately 1000 personnel in mid-2008.

"The advice received by the Government points to an elevated threat environment in Afghanistan. Our personnel are very well equipped and superbly trained and led. But we should all be fully conscious of, and prepared for, the possibility of casualties."

2006

Chinooks To Deploy To Afghanistan, Senator the Hon Robert Hill, Minister for Defence, media release, Min1/06, 10 Jan 2006

An Australian Defence Force element made up of two Chinook helicopters and about 110 personnel will soon be deployed to Afghanistan as part of Australia’s continuing commitment to the fight against terrorism, Defence Minister Robert Hill announced today. Senator Hill said the helicopter capability will provide additional aero-medical evacuation and air mobility support to Australia’s Special Forces Task Group in conjunction with support from Coalition forces.

The Chinook team will form part of the Combined Forces Command in Afghanistan and will be in addition to 190 personnel currently deployed to Afghanistan as part of the Special Forces Task Group. The helicopters are currently undergoing a $25 million upgrade to ensure they are combat ready to be deployed in February. They are expected to be fully operational by late March and will remain in Afghanistan for the balance of the Special Forces’ deployment that will conclude in September.

Senator Hill said that in the event of an Australian Provincial Reconstruction Team being deployed, the aircraft deployment could be extended until late November. The Government has given in-principle agreement to send an Australian Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) to Afghanistan this year.

Defence Minister Dr Brendan Nelson Farewells Army Aviation Troops Bound For Afghanistan, Min26/06, 13 Mar 2006

As foreshadowed in early January, 110 members of the 5^th Aviation Regiment will be deployed to Afghanistan with two CH47 Chinook helicopters. The Chinook team will provide transport for troops, heavy lift of equipment and supplies, and medical evacuation. The Chinook team will form part of the Combined Forces Command in Afghanistan and is in addition to 200 personnel currently deployed to that country as the Special Forces Task Group (SFTG). They are expected to be fully operational by late March. Australia is also planning to deploy a 200-person reconstruction task force to Afghanistan later this year as part of a Netherlands-led Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Oruzgan Province. The Chinook deployment could be extended to November 2006 to support the initial stages of our PRT deployment.

Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan, Joint Press Conference with the Right Hon John Howard Prime Minister and the Defence Minister and the Hon Brendan Nelson MP, Parliament House, Canberra. 8 May 2006

Announcement of 240 ADF personnel to Afghanistan, as a Reconstruction Task Force, together with an extension of the deployment of two Chinook helicopters until April of 2007 to support the RTF and the Netherlands-led Provincial Reconstruction Team. Cost of around $270 million. “About half of the 240 being deployed are tradies and engineers who will be involved in building water reticulation programmes, roads, flood mitigation and a variety of infrastructure projects which are nominated by the Afghanis themselves. And about half of the force will be light infantry including ASLAV's [Australian Light Armoured Vehicles] and Bushmasters. In other words, the Australian Reconstruction Task Force will be under Australian command. Their immediate protection will be provided by Australian infantry and cavalry and of course we're working in partnership with the Dutch military forces.”

Statement to Parliament on the Australian Defence Force commitment to Afghanistan, Transcript of the Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard MP, Parliament House, Canberra, 9 August 2006

"The purpose of this Statement is to inform the House of the Government's decision to send to Afghanistan an additional 150 troops of the ADF to reinforce the Reconstruction Task Force and to provide enhanced force protection. The Statement will also provide the Parliament with the Government's latest assessment of the security situation in Afghanistan and the challenges facing the Karzai Government and the Coalition.

After careful consideration, the Government has decided to increase the size of the Reconstruction Task Force from 240 personnel to 270. This will enhance the security, robustness and flexibility of the Task Force.

The Government has also decided that the Reconstruction Task Force deployment will include an infantry company group of about 120 personnel to provide enhanced force protection. The additional deployments will bring the total Reconstruction Task Force strength to approx 400.

The Reconstruction Task Force will be made up of a number of elements - command, security and protection, engineering, administrative support and tactical intelligence services. The force will be equipped with a number of Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicles and a number of Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAVs). The Reconstruction Task Force will be drawn primarily from the 1st Brigade in Darwin and will be under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Mick Ryan."

2005

Australia and Afghanistan Sign Counter-Terrorism Memorandum of Understanding [CT MOU], DFAT Media Release, FA161 - 20 December 2005

"This CT MOU provides a framework for cooperation between Australian and Afghan authorities in areas such as law enforcement, finance, defence, intelligence, security and border controls. This MOU brings to twelve the number of CT MOUs we have signed with countries in the region including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Fiji, Cambodia, East Timor, India, Papua New Guinea, Brunei and Pakistan.

Troop deployment to Afghanistan; Telstra; Rau family, John Howard and Robert Hill, Press Conference, Parliament House, Canberra, 13 July 2005

Dispatch of a Special Forces Task Group with 150 personnel, comprising SAS troops, Commandos and supporting elements, to be in place by September. Separate Australian national command, although the SAS [Special Air Service] Task Group will be under the operational control of United States forces.

2002

Expansion of Special Forces Counter Terrorist Capability and New Special Operations Command, Media release, Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard, 19 December 2002

The proposal will involve the raising of an additional commando company with its logistics, heavy weapons and communication support along with the raising of a Special Forces Combat Service Support Team. It will deliver an additional 310 highly trained combat personnel along with associated support personnel to supplement Australia’s existing Special Forces. The Government will also accelerate the purchase of the Additional Troop Lift Helicopters to enable a squadron of helicopters to be based in Sydney. This would provide a potent addition to Australia’s East Coast Special Forces capabilities. The new Special Operations Command will comprise a joint Headquarters, the Special Air Service Regiment, 4th Battalion the Royal Australian Regiment (Commando), Tactical Assault Groups (West) and (East), 1 Commando Regiment and the Incident Response Regiment.

Strategic Leadership for Australia - Policy Directions in a Complex World, John Howard, Address to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia, Four Seasons Hotel, Sydney, 20 November 2002

Largely as a result of coalition military efforts, the tasks for Australian special forces in Afghanistan are now much reduced. The focus of military operations is shifting towards support for reconstruction and institution building. These efforts are crucial for the future of Afghanistan but do not require the same level of involvement by our highly trained Special Air Service Regiment [SASR]. Therefore the Government has decided on the advice of the Chief of Defence Force, General Cosgrove, that this, the third rotation to Afghanistan, will complete Australia's special forces contribution. The SASR Task Group will begin withdrawing from Afghanistan in late November, and most will return to Australia before Christmas. The RAAF deployments of tanker aircraft to Kyrgyzstan and fighter aircraft to Diego Garcia have also been successfully completed. We still have two frigates deployed with the Multinational Interception Force in the Persian Gulf, and two P-3C maritime surveillance aircraft will join coalition forces in the region from January 2003.

2001

Transcript of the Prime Minister, The Hon John Howard MP, Press Conference, Melbourne, 17 October 2001, Subjects: deployment of Australian troops in fight against terrorism

I now wish to announce that the Government has decided to make available to the coalition by deploying overseas the following military forces: two P3 long range maritime aircraft to augment coalition maritime patrol and reconnaissance capabilities; Australian special forces detachment to go to selected locations as decided by the Chief of the Defence Force in conjunction with coalition force commanders to conduct combined operations; two B707 tanker aircraft to support air to air refuelling operations.

In addition we will continue to maintain the presence of one guided missile frigate to support the multinational interception force implementing UN Security council resolutions. HMAS Anzac will be replaced by HMAS Sydney. It is possible that after consultation the tasks assigned to HMAS Sydney may extend beyond the current interdiction duties. In addition to these forces I wish to announce the additional commitment of the following; a naval task group comprising one amphibious command ship with organic helicopter capabilities and a frigate as escort; four FA 18A aircraft to provide support for the air defence of coalition forces; and one frigate with embarked helicopter capability to assist in the coalition’s naval protection of shipping effort. The total number of deployed personnel will be about 1550 when all our forces have been committed.

The locations and possible deployment of these forces are being worked out between our respective military planners and the details will not be made available publicly for obvious operational reasons. It can however be said that it is not intended at this stage that the FA 18As will operate in Afghanistan. It is expected that the bulk of the forces will have gone overseas by the middle of November.

Application of ANZUS Treaty to terrorist attacks on the United States, Media Release John Howard, Prime Minister, 14 September 2001

“The terrorist attacks on the United States were discussed today at a special Cabinet meeting that I convened on my return from the United States. The Government has decided, in consultation with the United States, that Article IV of the ANZUS Treaty applies to the terrorist attacks on the United States. The decision is based on our belief that the attacks have been initiated and coordinated from outside the United States.”

Transcript of the Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard MP, Joint Press Conference with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister For Foreign Affairs, Parliament House, Subjects: ANZUS Treaty; Ansett, 14 September 2001.

“PRIME MINISTER: Well ladies and gentlemen the federal cabinet had a special meeting today primarily to consider the consequences of the awful events that have occurred in the United States in recent days. We came very quickly to the view that the provisions of the ANZUS Treaty should be invoked in relation to the attack upon the United States. Quite clearly these are circumstances to which Article IV of the ANZUS Treaty applies. We have discussed this matter with the United States and I would expect that this is a view with which the Administration will concur. The consequence of that is that we will consult the Americans regarding responses which might be deemed appropriate to what does amount to an attack upon the metropolitan territory of the United States in accordance with the provisions of the ANZUS Treaty.

"As I indicated in Washington and I repeat today, and it's the unanimous view of the Cabinet, that Australia stands ready to cooperate within the limits of its capability concerning any response that the United States may regard as necessary in consultation with her allies. I do want to stress of course that although the greater loss of life, the overwhelmingly greater loss of life as a result of these attacks, has been American, there are still some 80 or 90 Australians unaccounted for and there are confirmed deaths of at least three Australians. And at no stage should any Australian regard this as something that is just confined to the United States. It is an attack upon the way of life we hold dear in common with the Americans. It does require the invocation of ANZUS. The provisions of ANZUS do in our view apply and the Cabinet came to that view and I have released a formal statement to that effect that will be available to you at the end of this news conference.

JOURNALIST: Mr Howard, what type of military support [inaudible] United States?

PRIME MINISTER: Well I don't think that's the sort of thing I should speculate about in advance. I've said that we would be willing to participate to the limit of our capability. The Americans haven't at this stage made any requests for particular support but we will consider any requests that is made. The important thing is that by invoking ANZUS, it puts us in consultation, it represents a determination on our part to identify with the Americans. If ANZUS is meant to cover a situation, surely it covers this."

JOURNALIST: Did you invoke ANZUS as a gesture of solidarity on your own initiative or was it sought by the Americans?

PRIME MINISTER: Its sort of happened simultaneously. It was something that we though made a lot of sense and I think the Americans about the same time came to the same conclusion.

ALEXANDER DOWNER: We've been talking with each other about this.

PRIME MINISTER: Yes and it's just something that emerged, I mean it wasn't sort of a question that you know, we'll ring you and you'll ring me kind of thing, I mean it was just something that emerged.

JOURNALIST: Mr Howard, what does invoking ANZUS..[inaudible] ANZUS as a living document that doesn't really need to be invoked. What is the formalising thing.?

PRIME MINISTER: There's no I mean there's no particular. there's no form that's laid down but the fact that I have said after a cabinet discussion with the full authority of the Government, and I did communicate the Cabinet's decision, I couldn't get Mr Beazley because he was in the air, but we communicated with his office our decision and I gather from the response, but I mean I may have misunderstood, that he would support the action that was being taken by the Government but that's a matter for him to speak on. We think it appropriate to make it clear. It has both a symbolic resonance but it also means something in substance and it does mean that if there is action taken then we will naturally consider any requests from the Americans for assistance."

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