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| Australia 'has Iraq oil motive' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Australia has admitted that securing oil is a key factor behind its continued troop deployment in Iraq. | Australia has admitted that securing oil is a key factor behind its continued troop deployment in Iraq. |
| It is the first time such an admission has been made, correspondents say. | |
| Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said that maintaining "resource security" in the Middle East was a priority for the government in Canberra. | Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said that maintaining "resource security" in the Middle East was a priority for the government in Canberra. |
| But he added that the main reason troops were still in the Gulf was to ensure that the humanitarian crisis there did not worsen. | But he added that the main reason troops were still in the Gulf was to ensure that the humanitarian crisis there did not worsen. |
| Australia was involved in the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and has about 1,500 military personnel still deployed in the region. There are no immediate plans to bring them home. | Australia was involved in the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and has about 1,500 military personnel still deployed in the region. There are no immediate plans to bring them home. |
| Howard accused | Howard accused |
| Releasing the government's review of its national security policy, Mr Nelson said that the supply of oil had influenced strategic planning. | Releasing the government's review of its national security policy, Mr Nelson said that the supply of oil had influenced strategic planning. |
| "The defence update we're releasing today sets out many priorities for Australia's defence and security, and resource security is one of them," he said. | "The defence update we're releasing today sets out many priorities for Australia's defence and security, and resource security is one of them," he said. |
| "Obviously the Middle East itself, not only Iraq but the entire region, is an important supplier of energy, oil in particular, to the rest of the world." | "Obviously the Middle East itself, not only Iraq but the entire region, is an important supplier of energy, oil in particular, to the rest of the world." |
| Critics have accused the Australian government of telling lies about Iraq. | Critics have accused the Australian government of telling lies about Iraq. |
| Opposition politicians said that back in 2003, Prime Minister John Howard insisted the campaign to oust former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with oil. | Opposition politicians said that back in 2003, Prime Minister John Howard insisted the campaign to oust former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with oil. |
| They have chastised Mr Howard, accusing him of making up his policy in the Gulf as he goes along. | They have chastised Mr Howard, accusing him of making up his policy in the Gulf as he goes along. |
| Anti-war protesters say the government's admission has proved that the US-led invasion was more of a grab for oil rather than a genuine attempt to uncover weapons of mass destruction. | Anti-war protesters say the government's admission has proved that the US-led invasion was more of a grab for oil rather than a genuine attempt to uncover weapons of mass destruction. |
| But ministers in Canberra have brushed aside the criticism, saying they remain committed to helping the US stabilise Iraq and combat terrorism. | But ministers in Canberra have brushed aside the criticism, saying they remain committed to helping the US stabilise Iraq and combat terrorism. |
| They have also stressed that there will be no "premature withdrawal" of Australian forces from the region. | They have also stressed that there will be no "premature withdrawal" of Australian forces from the region. |