Dr Nelson On ADF Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

Dr Nelson On ADF Soldier Killed In Afghanistan

The Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson
Minister for Defence
Transcript Of Doorstop Interview, Sydney
Tuesday, 9 October 2007

Australian Defence Force soldier killed in Afghanistan

DR NELSON: Good morning everyone. As the Chief of Defence, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston has formally announced early this morning, late yesterday Australian time an Australian soldier was killed by a bomb blast in Oruzgan Province in central southern Afghanistan. One other soldier was wounded.

We understand that these soldiers were operating around 6 km from Tarin Kowt where our Australian soldiers are based in Oruzgan. We further understand that this was an improvised explosive device, which in layman's terms is a bomb which is detonated through a number of means.

Overnight the Australian Army has informed the families of the soldier who has been killed and of the soldier that has been wounded.

I specifically ask the media not to pursue the identity of the soldier and his family at this stage at the request of the family themselves.

The family have asked for their privacy to be respected and they have specifically asked, at this stage, that his name not be released. Of course it will be released by the Australian Defence Force in due course.

Today the thoughts of every man and women - including myself - from the Australian Defence Organisation is with both of these families and in particular the family of the soldier who has been killed.

Every Australian should stop to reflect some time through the course of today on what Australian soldiers are doing in our name, on our behalf, in Afghanistan and in other parts of the world.

We are in Afghanistan because we are involved in a struggle for freedom, not only of the Afghans themselves but of the free world.

Every one of us knows how we felt almost five years ago when 88 Australians were murdered in Bali by three men who trained with al Qaeda under the support and patronage of the Taliban. Muklas, Hambali and Samudra - those men, they trained with al Qaeda and the killed 88 Australians almost five years ago.

If we want to live in a free world, and protect and defence the values that are important to us as Australians, it is extremely important that we prevail in Afghanistan. We currently have 700 soldiers in Oruzgan and almost 1,000 Australian troops across Afghanistan. The two soldiers concerned, I'm advised, were a part of a patrol. We have a protection company of some 130 Australian soldiers in Australian Light Armoured Vehicles and Bushmasters and their job is to protect the almost 300 engineers - the tradies that are doing such a great job in building roads and water systems, and running the Trade Training School, and building hospitals in schools in Afghanistan. The task of these men was to protect them and I'm advised that they were out on patrol engaged in the protection of our engineers when this attack occurred.

It's extremely important to us Australians that we remember that they are there in our name, under our flag, they wear our uniform, they do us proud on our behalf to make sure that the heinous behaviour of the Taliban and the ideological dogma of these people who have hijacked the name of Islam to build a violent political utopia is something that does not prevail in Afghanistan, that it does not prevail in central Asia, and that we as Australians understand that in order to protect ourselves, our interests and our values, it's extremely important that we work with NATO and our other allies in Afghanistan to see that we prevail in this regard.

QUESTION: Minister, IEDs are widely used in Iraq, but are our troops in Afghanistan trained to properly to protect themselves against them?

DR NELSON: Australia is working very closely with the United States, our British and other allies in understanding improvised explosive device technology, how to counter it, and how they work.

Over the last four months, we've had some 25 IED attacks in Oruzgan, and over the last six months we've had almost half a dozen IED attacks which have involved Australian soldiers. We will be very carefully examining the circumstances under which this attack occurred to understand better what happened, and how of course in the future we might be able to prevent such an attack from occurring.

QUESTION: How hard do you believe this might hit community support for the... work in Afghanistan (inaudible)?

DR NELSON: Well look, the important thing for all of us to understand is that we have, when we deployed our Special Operations Task Group several months ago back to Afghanistan, the Prime Minister and I said that the job was as important as it is dangerous. We have rated the risk in Afghanistan and continue to rate it as being extremely high in terms of the risk of casualties. But it's very important for us as Australians to understand that we are involved in a struggle, not only in Afghanistan, but in other parts of the world, against people who have hijacked the name of Islam to build a violent political utopia; who are fanatically opposed to countries like Australia that are open to other people, that believe in a fair go, that think that women ought to be treated equally alongside men, and that basically respect your religious views, whatever they are.

That's what we are fighting. Three men who had trained with al Qaeda in Afghanistan came from this part of the world and murdered 88 Australians almost five years ago. It's fundamentally important for us that we stand up for the things in which we believe. I was last in Afghanistan and I saw our troops just over five weeks ago. Their morale is extremely high. They believe in their mission. We should believe in them.

QUESTION: Is there any suggestion of Iranian involvement in attacks, given there are allegations (inaudible) both in Iraq and Afghanistan?

DR NELSON: There's no question that a variety of weapons including improvised explosive devices, and explosively formed projectiles and other things are finding their way from Iran into both Iraq and Afghanistan. At this stage of course we don't know precisely the source of this particular IED. But in the recovery of the vehicle and the examination of all of the circumstances surrounding this particular attack, we will do the very best we can to get to the bottom of it.

QUESTION: Are you able to tell us which (inaudible)?

DR NELSON: No, I'm not at this stage. I think, look, our hearts go out to the family of the soldiers, both of the soldiers, the one that was wounded, and especially the family of the soldier who has been killed.

But the family has specifically requested that their privacy be protected at this stage. And I ask members of the media and the Australian public to accept that until such time as the family feels otherwise.

QUESTION: What further details can you give about the wounded soldier?

DR NELSON: I'm advised by the Chief of Defence that the wounded soldier is recovering very well. The injuries to the soldier were not as extensive as we first thought, and we expect him to return to full operational duty quite soon.

QUESTION: But he won't be coming home?

DR NELSON: I won't provide any detail on that at the moment. That's a decision for the commanding officer to take in the field. But I'm advised that we can expect him to make a full recovery and return to his normal duties relatively soon.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) could be adequately treated (inaudible)?

DR NELSON: The medical treatment that our guys are receiving in Afghanistan is absolutely first rate. And I appreciate that it's not possible for Australians, obviously, to visit our troops, but anyone who's proud to be an Australian will be even prouder if they could see just what our people do and how they do it, in Afghanistan, and in other parts of the world. They take enormous risks. But they are extraordinarily well led. Their training is first rate. Their equipment is world class. And there's something about the Australian character, and the way that the Australian troops actually operate which has enabled us to minimise the risks to our people.

QUESTION: This is also going to have an impact on the ground, though.

DR NELSON: Well these are soldiers. These are Australian soldiers, they are extraordinarily well led; they're extremely well trained. They believe very strongly in what they're doing. And I can assure you that they'll be getting on with the job.

QUESTION: Surely, though, you have to accept this will affect their morale, given that one of their colleagues is dead and one is injured.

DR NELSON: Well, they are professional soldiers. They believe very much in what they're doing. This is what they trained for. Obviously, they will be affected by the casualties that have been sustained. But knowing the soldiers as I do, as their minister, I can assure you that it will only strengthen their resolve. It's extremely important... you know, they understand the importance of the job they're doing. They believe in it very strongly. And they know the consequences to Afghanistan, to the free world, including Australia, of us not prevailing in this.

And whilst they will clearly be affected by losing one of their mates, I can assure you that it will (inaudible) strengthen their resolve to see the job through.

QUESTION: Will you consider perhaps giving tougher vehicles now, given the damage that these particular (inaudible) caused?

DR NELSON: The Australian Light Armoured Vehicle and the Bushmaster are world class for this type of vehicle. They are extraordinarily well protected. They're extremely capable. Recently, we have ordered more of these vehicles. And there are a number of Australian soldiers who said to me, 'sir, I owe my life to this vehicle'. They have and continue to serve the Australian Defence Force, the Australian Army extremely well. They provide a very high level of protection.

And unfortunately, we've had several IED attacks in Afghanistan and Iraq involving these vehicles over the last few months. Our guys have basically walked away from all of those attacks.

That wasn't the case on this particular occasion.

We will be specifically looking at how this attack occurred, and what we might be able to do if there's anything in the future to avoid a similar sort of outcome. But apart from the Abrams tanks, which we've just acquired, these vehicles provide the highest level of mobility and protection that the Australian Defence Force has.

QUESTION: So you don't think there's any need for any modifications to the vehicles to better protect the soldiers (inaudible)?

DR NELSON: I'm not going to comment on that. I'm not (inaudible).

QUESTION: Will there be any operational changes that the army will make?

DR NELSON: I'm not going to comment on that. Thanks.

QUESTION: (Inaudible) are actually - is involved in sending these people overseas, how does that affect you personally having one of those people killed on your watch?

DR NELSON: Well, it is a great privilege to be able to be their minister. They're extraordinary men and women who wear our uniform. These are the people who define and shape our values and our identity as a nation, and they know the risks that they undertake on our behalf, and we understand those risks when we send them in our name into harms way to do a job that needs to be done.

Thanks very much. Thanks everyone.

ENDS

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