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Julie Bishop: Australia to play prudent and proportionate role in attacking Isis Julie Bishop: Australia to play prudent and proportionate role in attacking Isis
(about 2 hours later)
Australia is prepared to play a “proportionate, prudent role” in countering violent extremism, Julie Bishop has said, ahead of a cabinet meeting on Tuesday that is likely to discuss deployment of military personnel in Iraq. Australia is prepared to play a “proportionate, prudent role” in countering violent extremism, Julie Bishop has said, as cabinet prepares to finalise a decision to send military personnel into Iraq.
The foreign affairs minister also said countries had been taken aback by the speed with which Islamic State (Isis) militants had managed to claim territory in Syria and Iraq.The foreign affairs minister also said countries had been taken aback by the speed with which Islamic State (Isis) militants had managed to claim territory in Syria and Iraq.
Bishop’s comment about the territorial advance of Isis followed an admission by the US president, Barack Obama, that intelligence agencies had underestimated developments in Syria and overestimated the ability of the Iraqi army to fight extremists.Bishop’s comment about the territorial advance of Isis followed an admission by the US president, Barack Obama, that intelligence agencies had underestimated developments in Syria and overestimated the ability of the Iraqi army to fight extremists.
Bishop cited the need to “build the capacity and capability” of the Iraqi military as the reason the Australian government was offering 200 special forces personnel to advise and assist Iraqi and Kurdish forces in the fight against Isis.Bishop cited the need to “build the capacity and capability” of the Iraqi military as the reason the Australian government was offering 200 special forces personnel to advise and assist Iraqi and Kurdish forces in the fight against Isis.
The Australian government is preparing to sign off on military involvement in Iraq, two weeks after deciding to pre-deploy 600 Australian Defence Force (ADF) members to the United Arab Emirates.The Australian government is preparing to sign off on military involvement in Iraq, two weeks after deciding to pre-deploy 600 Australian Defence Force (ADF) members to the United Arab Emirates.
Up to to eight Australian F/A-18 Super Hornet combat aircraft are expected to participate in US-led airstrikes against Isis targets in Iraq. The personnel are in the United Arab Emirates awaiting the government’s final decision.Up to to eight Australian F/A-18 Super Hornet combat aircraft are expected to participate in US-led airstrikes against Isis targets in Iraq. The personnel are in the United Arab Emirates awaiting the government’s final decision.
Bishop confirmed federal cabinet would meet on Tuesday. The national security committee would first make a decision and the full cabinet would then consider the matter. Bishop said cabinet’s national security committee would discuss the Iraq mission “during the course of this week” and the full cabinet would then consider the matter. She confirmed federal cabinet would meet on Tuesday, although Guardian Australia has been told the Iraq issue is not likely to be considered at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.
Asked about the delay in signing off on the mission, Bishop said Australia was acting in a “prudent and measured” manner. It would be acting at the invitation of the new Iraqi government, which was yet to appoint defence or interior ministers.Asked about the delay in signing off on the mission, Bishop said Australia was acting in a “prudent and measured” manner. It would be acting at the invitation of the new Iraqi government, which was yet to appoint defence or interior ministers.
“We want to ensure that we have in place the appropriate legal framework to cover the immunities and privileges and protections that our personnel would need,” she said in a press conference in Melbourne on Monday.“We want to ensure that we have in place the appropriate legal framework to cover the immunities and privileges and protections that our personnel would need,” she said in a press conference in Melbourne on Monday.
Bishop said the prospect of a role for Australia in Syria was “a different situation altogether” and no such request had been received.Bishop said the prospect of a role for Australia in Syria was “a different situation altogether” and no such request had been received.
The Australian government has not ruled out joining US, UK and Arab nations in air strikes in Syria, although it has emphasised the different legal environment for such action. It has also played down any suggestion of co-operation with the Assad regime in Syria.The Australian government has not ruled out joining US, UK and Arab nations in air strikes in Syria, although it has emphasised the different legal environment for such action. It has also played down any suggestion of co-operation with the Assad regime in Syria.
Bishop addressed the media in Melbourne alongside the Victorian premier, Denis Napthine, after she briefed the state cabinet on developments in the Middle East and at home.Bishop addressed the media in Melbourne alongside the Victorian premier, Denis Napthine, after she briefed the state cabinet on developments in the Middle East and at home.
Napthine said he was “concerned about the heightened level of anxiety within our community” after a person of interest to counter-terrorism police, Abdul Numan Haider, was shot dead after stabbing two officers near a Melbourne police station last week.Napthine said he was “concerned about the heightened level of anxiety within our community” after a person of interest to counter-terrorism police, Abdul Numan Haider, was shot dead after stabbing two officers near a Melbourne police station last week.
The premier emphasised a message of inclusion as he said the incident was “about the alleged behaviour of an individual”.The premier emphasised a message of inclusion as he said the incident was “about the alleged behaviour of an individual”.
Napthine said it was important to celebrate “our multicultural, diverse faith community” and it was “not a time for division; it’s a time for coming together”.Napthine said it was important to celebrate “our multicultural, diverse faith community” and it was “not a time for division; it’s a time for coming together”.
He had a specific message for Victorian Muslims: “You are very much a part of Victoria and Australia, you are very proud Victorians and we’re very proud of you and we want to make sure you feel included in our society and this inclusion is about making sure that we are a stronger, safer community.”He had a specific message for Victorian Muslims: “You are very much a part of Victoria and Australia, you are very proud Victorians and we’re very proud of you and we want to make sure you feel included in our society and this inclusion is about making sure that we are a stronger, safer community.”
Bishop praised Napthine for reaching out to the Muslim community and she pointed to statements by Islamic leaders in Australia that the action of Isis should not be done in the name of Islam.Bishop praised Napthine for reaching out to the Muslim community and she pointed to statements by Islamic leaders in Australia that the action of Isis should not be done in the name of Islam.
The foreign affairs minister said she had so far cancelled about 50 passports on national security grounds.The foreign affairs minister said she had so far cancelled about 50 passports on national security grounds.
“I should also point out that it is a fact … that the number of foreign fighters and the number of passports that I have cancelled have focused on New South Wales, then Victoria, then Queensland, so other states are not facing the same immediate risks as NSW, Victoria and Queensland,” she said.“I should also point out that it is a fact … that the number of foreign fighters and the number of passports that I have cancelled have focused on New South Wales, then Victoria, then Queensland, so other states are not facing the same immediate risks as NSW, Victoria and Queensland,” she said.
“There is a very high level of cooperation between every state and territory government and the federal government in relation to security issues and the terrorist threat that Australia is facing. This is the most significant domestic security threat that Australia has faced in some time and all governments are taking it seriously.”“There is a very high level of cooperation between every state and territory government and the federal government in relation to security issues and the terrorist threat that Australia is facing. This is the most significant domestic security threat that Australia has faced in some time and all governments are taking it seriously.”
Asked about Obama’s observations about the threat posed by Isis, Bishop said countries had been “somewhat surprised by the speed and the success” of the group in taking over territory in Syria and Iraq.Asked about Obama’s observations about the threat posed by Isis, Bishop said countries had been “somewhat surprised by the speed and the success” of the group in taking over territory in Syria and Iraq.
But she said she did not believe the west had ever underestimated the threat of terrorism.But she said she did not believe the west had ever underestimated the threat of terrorism.
In an apparent swipe at the Gillard government, Bishop said: “Some thought that the threat from terrorism was over but we’ve always been concerned about national security and the potential threat for violent extremism to raise its ugly head at any time … so Australia has maintained its focus on counter-terrorism.In an apparent swipe at the Gillard government, Bishop said: “Some thought that the threat from terrorism was over but we’ve always been concerned about national security and the potential threat for violent extremism to raise its ugly head at any time … so Australia has maintained its focus on counter-terrorism.
“Regrettably, we didn’t have focus in the last few years that we should have. That’s why the Australian government has announced $630m in additional funding to ensure that our intelligence agencies and others have the capability and capacity to deal with a heightened terrorist risk.”“Regrettably, we didn’t have focus in the last few years that we should have. That’s why the Australian government has announced $630m in additional funding to ensure that our intelligence agencies and others have the capability and capacity to deal with a heightened terrorist risk.”
In January 2013 the then prime minister Julia Gillard said as she launched a national security strategy: “The 9/11 decade is ending and new one is taking its place.”In January 2013 the then prime minister Julia Gillard said as she launched a national security strategy: “The 9/11 decade is ending and new one is taking its place.”
Gillard described “a post 9/11 era where some risks and challenges endure and others are evolving rapidly”. She said she was not arguing that terrorism had been defeated, but it would be “an era in which the behaviour of states, not non-state actors, will be the most important driver and shaper of Australia’s national security thinking”.Gillard described “a post 9/11 era where some risks and challenges endure and others are evolving rapidly”. She said she was not arguing that terrorism had been defeated, but it would be “an era in which the behaviour of states, not non-state actors, will be the most important driver and shaper of Australia’s national security thinking”.
In an interview with Guardian Australia last week, Gillard said Labor had never asserted or believed that there was no continuing terrorist threat on Australian soil.In an interview with Guardian Australia last week, Gillard said Labor had never asserted or believed that there was no continuing terrorist threat on Australian soil.
The attorney general, George Brandis, has previously criticised the former government’s assessment of the terrorism threat.The attorney general, George Brandis, has previously criticised the former government’s assessment of the terrorism threat.