19th Mar 2013, 3:42 PM – Senate Motions - Iraq - Independent inquiry

The majority voted against the motion introduced by Tasmanian Greens Senator Christine Milne, which means it was unsuccessful.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) it is 10 years since the United States of America (US) led the invasion of Iraq,

(ii) the British non-government organisation, Iraq Body Count, estimates about 162 000 people, almost 80 per cent of them civilians, were killed in Iraq from the start of the 2003 US-led invasion, up to the withdrawal of American forces in 2012, and

(iii) in sending Australian troops to Iraq in 2003, the Howard Government was the first government in Australia's history to go to war without the support of both Houses of Parliament; and

(b) calls on the Government and the Opposition to:

(i) support the Australian Greens' Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) Bill 2010 [No. 2] which would require parliamentary approval of overseas service by members of the Australian Defence Force, and

(ii) support an independent inquiry into the reasons behind Australia's participation in the invasion.