Labor has sided with the government in rejecting calls for parliamentary approval of a new Australian military effort in Iraq.
Australian defence personnel will within days deliver weapons sourced from eastern Europe to Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State extremists in Iraq’s north.
Greens leader Senator Christine Milne on Monday morning moved to suspend the Senate program to debate a motion seeking parliamentary approval for the deployment of troops to Iraq.
“It is time the Australian parliament was brought into this debate,” Milne said.
Labor defence spokesman Stephen Conroy sided with the government, labelling the Greens motion a “stunt to score cheap political points”.
Defence Minister Senator David Johnston said a parliamentary debate would delay the action and put lives at risk just when the Kurdish people needed international support.
“We would not want to see that resistance fail for want of ammunition or other supplies,” Johnston said.
It is unclear how many flights will be needed or whether the supplies will be guarded by armed special forces.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott dismissed speculation it could lead to a ground troop deployment.
“What President Obama has said all along – and what I say likewise – is that we are ruling out combat troops on the ground,” Mr Abbott told the Nine Network.
Australia would continue to talk to its allies about military involvement “down the track”, but there had been no formal request or decision taken to get further involved, he said.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who will meet European leaders in Wales to discuss Iraq later this week, said the international coalition had a clear goal “to contain and ultimately eliminate” the Islamic State organisation and its leadership.
While Johnston would not confirm the use of special forces, he said: “We will take every single precaution to make sure our people are as safe as they can be.”
Speaking before the start of the Greens motion debate, the prime minister dismissed concerns that parliament was not consulted about Australia’s involvement.
He says “standard procedure” is for the national security committee of cabinet to consider the matter, then the full cabinet.
The opposition leader is also consulted.
“As far as I’m concerned, it always will be thus,” Abbott said.
Milne told parliament few Australians believed Abbott had a clear plan for the Iraq mission.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie said it was “insane” that the power to approve military action rested with the prime minister and his senior ministers.
“It should be debated in the parliament and the evidence presented, hard evidence presented, so people can make a considered decision,” Wilkie told ABC radio.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said earlier that Labor supported the government’s decision to contribute to “a remarkable act of international co-operation” to assist communities in Iraq with humanitarian relief and weaponry.
