Greens Move To Give Parliament Authority To Deploy Troops
Parliament would need to authorise Australia sending troops to war under the Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) Bill 2010 , introduced into the House of Representatives today by Deputy Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP.
“If media reports are accurate, ISIS is now closer to Baghdad and already some commentators are calling for military intervention,” said Mr Bandt.
“The prospect of Australian troops being sent to Iraq is again being discussed but the Australian parliament remains powerless over troop deployments.
“The Bill introduced today would give Parliament the final say over momentous decisions like going to war and sending our troops into conflict zones.
“This Bill would also allow Parliament to debate the reasons for and against a particular conflict and whether it is in the country’s interests to become involved.
“Australia should not be sending troops to war in Iraq, but the elected representatives of the people currently have no say in the matter.
“Giving the Parliament this authority is strongly in the interest of our democracy and those who defend it,” said Mr Bandt.