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Department of Defence Supplementary Budget Estimates

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Department of Defence Supplementary Budget Estimates Department of Defence Supplementary Budget Estimates Hearing – 22 October 2014 Question on Notice No. 1 - Development of options for Iraq deployment Senator Conroy asked on 22 October 2014, Hansard page 11: Senator CONROY: You might want to take some of these on notice, as they are just factual things. I was just interested in understanding the time line of our activities. I was wondering whether you could give us an indicative date of when the government first asked the CDF to prepare options to deal with the threat of ISIL in Iraq. When did we first start gearing up for it? Minister, you might be able to help. As I said, I am happy to get an exact date later on. Senator Johnston: I think we would need to take that on notice, because it would more than likely be a matter that was done formally, as opposed to discussions around the issue. Senator CONROY: Sure. I appreciate that. Thank you. Vice Adm. Griggs: We did start our first humanitarian assistance airdrop on 14 August. That was the Mount Sinjar— Senator CONROY: Yes. So, that was our first actual activity, but, as I said, I am happy with the minister's indication of taking on notice when we first started getting ready. When were the first options presented to government? Again, I am happy for you to take that on notice. And I did want to speak specifically about the RAAF operations in Iraq. Again, just to get dates: when was the deployment of the Super Hornets first proposed to government? That would fall into the same category, I think, as Senator Johnston said. How many times have the Super Hornets flown into Iraqi airspace? I was not sure whether you mentioned 20 missions for the Hornets or 20 missions for one of the other planes. Response: Defence has provided regular advice to the Government on potential options for Australian Defence Force (ADF) involvement in Iraq since mid-June 2014, initially including in relation to potential ADF assistance to the Australian Embassy in Baghdad, involvement in international efforts to provide Humanitarian Assistance to Kurdish Peshmerga forces in Northern Iraq, and finally involvement in coalition efforts to combat ISIL in support of the Iraqi Government. On 20 June, Defence deployed a small detachment of ADF personnel to support Embassy staff in Baghdad, and to assist Embassy planning for a possible evacuation of Embassy staff. Between June and September 2014, the Chief of Defence Force also liaised with his counterparts in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand in order to remain informed of security developments in Iraq and US and coalition military planning. During this time the ADF conducted prudent planning and preparation for a range of possible contingencies. The potential Australian Defence Force contribution to the international coalition against ISIL in Iraq, including the preparation and deployment of Super Hornets to the Middle East, was considered and announced by the Government on 14 September 2014. As of 21 November 2014 the F/A-18F Super Hornets have flown 61 missions in Iraq (each mission consists of two aircraft). The KC-30A aircraft has flown 50 missions in Iraq, providing air-to-air refuelling support for Australian F/A-18Fs and other coalition aircraft. The E-7A Wedgetail aircraft has flown 33 missions in Iraq and has provided command and control and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support to coalition forces. In addition, the ADF has conducted four humanitarian airdrop missions in Northern Iraq, on 14 August, 31 August, 19 November and 21 November. The first, third and fourth airdrops delivered supplies to civilians on Mount Sinjar. The second airdrop delivered supplies to civilians in the Northern Iraqi town of Amirili. The ADF has also conducted five military store supply missions from Europe to Erbil, Iraq to date. The first C-17A Globemaster stores mission of 2 September 2014 carried 82mm mortar rounds (38 tonnes). The second C-17A Globemaster stores mission of 4 September 2014 carried small arms 7.62mm ammunition (57 tonnes). The third C- 17A Globemaster stores mission of 7 September 2014 carried small arms 7.62mm ammunition (58 tonnes). The fourth C-17A Globemaster stores mission of 16 September 2014 carried small arms 7.62mm ammunition (30 tonnes). The fifth stores mission of 24 September 2014, flown by a C-130J Hercules, carried AK47 assault rifles with slings and magazines (11.5 tonnes). An Australian Special Operations Task Group has deployed to Baghdad to carry out an Advise and Assist mission with the Iraqi Security Forces. Department of Defence Supplementary Budget Estimates Hearing - 22 October 2014 Question on Notice No. 2 - Aid drops in Iraq Senator Back asked on 22 October 2014, Hansard page 14: CHAIR: Could you give us some understanding of the military equipment that has been provided to the Kurdish forces and of whether we are in a position to, or we have been requested to, provide further assistance to the Kurdish forces. Vice Adm. Griggs: We have conducted five resupply missions into Erbil out of both Albania and Bulgaria. It has mainly been small arms, mortars and things like that. We can get you some detail on that. It has not been heavy weapons, and it has not been us providing it. We have been doing the transportation, as I said, from Albania and Bulgaria. My understanding is that we do not have any of those missions in train for planning purposes at the moment. CHAIR: Mention was made earlier of the humanitarian action, which you said commenced on 14 August. Can you please give us some understanding of what humanitarian assistance has been provided by the ADF? Vice Adm. Griggs: I can get you the exact details of what was in the loads, but it was effectively water, blankets and that sort of thing, particularly onto Mount Sinjar. We also did in Amerli as well, so there were two separate areas where we provided humanitarian assistance. Response: There have been five military resupply tasks to the Kurdish Peshmerga that provided the following: 38 tonnes of 82 mm mortar rounds 145 tonnes of 7.62 mm ammunition, and 1,104 AK47 rifles There have been two humanitarian assistance airdrop missions as follows: 14 August 2014 to Mt Sinjar – delivering sufficient food and water for 3,750 people for one day, and 31 August 2014 to Amerli – dropping 15 bundles containing water, biscuits, hygiene packs and tarpaulins. Department of Defence Supplementary Budget Estimates Hearing - 22 October 2014 Question on Notice No. 3 - Supporting arrangements with Iraqi Government for deployment Senator Conroy asked on 22 October 2014, Hansard page 15: Senator CONROY: Okay, thank you. The sort of agreement we have been talking about with the Iraqis has usually been covered by a status of force agreement. That is what we have usually wrapped up these arrangements within. Is that the normal process? Vice Adm. Griggs: That depends on the length of the activity and the sovereign government who you are dealing with. That is one mechanism. Senator CONROY: That is the most common one though, is it not? Vice Adm. Griggs: Common—I mean, we have one, for example, in Afghanistan which has been recently signed for the NATO part of— Senator CONROY: And we had one previously for activities in Iraq? Vice Adm. Griggs: I would have to take that on notice. That was some years ago. Senator CONROY: Minister, have we used an exchange of letters for an ADF deployment before or is this just due to the unique circumstances? Senator Johnston: I would have to take that on notice as to an exchange of letters. We had previously, in Iraq, an arrangement that was appropriate in terms of our participation in a multinational force. But, of course, we had UN Security Council resolution 1790, which provided us with a mandate to go into Iraq previously. All I can say about what we have is that Defence is certain of the view that this is a very strong arrangement that provides the necessary protection for our people that we want and need. Response: The legal arrangements for Australia's previous presence in Iraq before 31 December 2008 were based on a United Nations Security Council mandate (UNSC Resolution 1790) and Iraqi domestic law, contained in Coalition Provisional Authority Order 17 (revised). Those arrangements ceased at the end of 2008. The presence of ADF personnel in Iraq after 31 December 2008, until withdrawal prior to 31 July 2009, was provided for under separate Iraqi domestic law. The ADF has used an exchange of letters for previous deployments other than Iraq. Department of Defence Supplementary Budget Estimates Hearing - 22 October 2014 Questions on Notice No. 4 - Role of ADF following 2003 Iraqi conflict Senator Conroy asked on 22 October 2014, Hansard page 17: Senator CONROY: Was the ADF involved in training, advising and assisting the Iraqi army following the 2003 conflict? Vice Adm. Griggs: I would have to take that on notice, the exact mission that we had down at al-Muthanna. Senator CONROY: You have got the Chief of Army here, who might be able to help. Vice Adm. Griggs: He might. Senator CONROY: I am assuming the answer is yes, but I just wanted have a discussion about that. Lt Gen. Morrison: I will have to take that question on notice. We were there in more of a protect, secure and stabilise role. Response: As part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) mission in Iraq (2003-2009), Operation Catalyst, ADF personnel were responsible for training approximately 36,000 members of the Iraqi Army, Navy and Marines, including the conduct of specialist training in logistics support, counter-insurgency operations and maritime interception and interdiction operations.
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