[Greens-Media] Sen KERRY NETTLE: Australia's participation in Iraq and Afghanistan is the problem not troop numbers

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

Australia's participation in Iraq and Afghanistan is the problem not
troop numbers

24.08.06

Senator Kerry Nettle today indicated The Greens opposition to the Prime
Minister's announcement that the ADF will be increased in size to meet
increased demands.

"Australia's disastrous involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan is at the
heart of the pressure on the Army right now," Senator Nettle

"The answer is not to get a bigger army but pull out of Iraq and
Afghanistan and rethink the ADF's involvement in supporting US foreign
policy adventures.

"Australians already spend far more on defence than comparable OECD
countries. 

According to Taylor and Francis' Military Balance 2006 Australia's
defence expenditure is running at US$764 per person on defence which is
more than twice what Canadians spend at US$372 per person.

"The defence budget is now bigger than the education budget and has
almost doubled since Howard took office in since 1996

"Figures released by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute today
show that the Iraq war misadventure has so far cost Australians $1.6
billion and the Afghanistan involvement over $800 million and counting.

"In our region we should help with poverty alleviation to prevent social
unrest occurring rather than respond with our military when social
unrest occurs.

"The Greens oppose the government's policy to equip and staff the
defence forces for use in offensive overseas deployments in support of
the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146