MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
STEPHEN SMITH, MP
Stephen Smith, Minister for Defence
Question Without Notice on Monday, 18 October 2010
Australia’s commitment in Afghanistan
The very clear rationale for Australia’s involvement in Afghanistan is that it is in our national interest
to be so involved. It is in our national interest to support a United Nations mandated International
Security Assistance Force—a coalition of 47 countries mandated by the United Nations. That coalition,
including our Alliance partner the United States, seeks to stare down international terrorism. These
issues will no doubt be very broadly and widely debated by Parliament in the days ahead.
Let me come precisely to the question that the Member has raised in respect of the Karzai
Government.
As Members of the House might recall, both before and after the recent Presidential election which
saw President Karzai re-elected, I said very clearly on a number of occasions that Australia, the
Australian Government, the International Security Assistance Force and the international community
expected to see considerable and substantive improvement from whatever Afghan Government
emerged from that Presidential election process.
Whether it was a re-elected Karzai Government or some other government we expected to see
substantial improvement on corruption, on governance and on human rights issues, in particular the
treatment of women and girls, and especially when it came to matters like education.
I said that on behalf of the Australian Government and on behalf of Australia, both domestically and
internationally. I said that before President Karzai faced the election and after his re-election. The
position of Australia and the position of the Australian government has not changed one iota in that
respect.
NEWS 
