Matt Canavan slammed for insensitive tweet after Taliban take power in Kabul

A joke about the Taliban taking over Afghanistan has divided Morrison Government MPs, with the former veterans affairs minister describing it as “offensive”.

A “disrespectful” joke about the Taliban taking over Afghanistan has divided Morrison Government MPs, with former veterans affairs Minister Darren Chester describing a colleague’s actions as “offensive”.

Mr Chester was responding to a tweet from Nationals Senator Matt Canavan who said on Monday: “does anyone know if the Taliban will sign up to net zero?”.

“Matt Canavan doesn’t speak for me,” Mr Chester said.

“This tweet is offensive, disrespectful and totally lacking in any compassion for the 41 brave Australians who lost their lives, the families who grieve for them, the 39,000 Australians who served in this conflict, and the people of Afghanistan.”

Does anyone know whether the Taliban will sign up to net zero?

— Matthew Canavan (@mattjcan) August 15, 2021

Former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack also dismissed Mr Canavan’s comment.

“Disappointing, insensitive and unnecessary,” Mr McCormack said.

“To compare climate policy with the bloodshed on the streets of Kabul is out of place and unworthy of a member of the Australian parliament.

“Our thoughts today should be for the Afghan people and the families or our brave fallen Diggers.”

Matt Canavan during the LNP State Conference held in South Brisbane last month. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Richard Gosling

Mr Canavan’s tweet was widely condemned on Monday, with Labor ACT MP David Smith replying: “surely you’re better than this? Utterly disgusting”.

It comes as the scramble to rescue dozens of Australians and their families from Kabul as the Taliban take control of Afghanistan was described as a “last flight out of Saigon” moment for the nation.

Australian Defence Force members will deploy within days for the emergency evacuation mission to rescue Australian citizens as well as Afghan interpreters, journalists and other contractors.

Hours after Taliban militants entered the capital Kabul on Sunday they declared the decades-long war in Afghanistan was “over” leaving allies to frantically evacuate diplomatic staff and other citizens from the city.

There are more than 80 Australian citizens and visa holders registered as being in Afghanistan, the majority of whom are in Kabul.

They include United Nations and non-government-organisation workers.

Many also have family members looking to evacuate.

Taliban fighters sit on a vehicle along the street in Jalalabad province. Picture: AFP

Troops from the US, UK and Canada have already been evacuating their own diplomats and soldiers, as well as thousands of Afghan workers who helped them.

They will all be at risk in a situation described by experts as an “absolute disaster” following the withdrawal of allies.

Australia has joined the US and dozens of other countries in calling on the Taliban to allow international citizens and locals who wish to leave Afghanistan to do so safely

“Given the deteriorating security situation, we support, are working to secure, and call on all parties to respect and facilitate, the safe and orderly departure of foreign nationals and Afghans who wish to leave the country,” the countries said in a group statement.

“Those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan bear responsibility — and accountability — for the protection of human life and property, and for the immediate restoration of security and civil order.”

The group has asked for Afghans and international citizens be allowed to do so, for roads, airports and border crossing must remain open and “calm must be maintained”.

“The Afghan people deserve to live in safety, security and dignity,” the statement said.

“We in the international community stand ready to assist them.”

Taliban fighters and local people sit on an Afghan National Army vehicle on a street in Jalalabad province. Picture: AFP

Taliban fighters and local people celebrating in Jalalabad. Picture: AFPTV

Prime Minister Scott Morrison would not go into specific “operational arrangements” when he announced the mission and remained tight-lipped on Monday after Kabul fell to the Taliban.

“We’re continuing with our operations in conjunction with our partners in what is a very dangerous part of the world and a deteriorating situation,” Mr Morrison said.

It is expected the small Australian force will be supported by the US, which has sent an extra 5000 troops to assist with evacuations.

Australia withdrew its last remaining troops from Afghanistan in June. Picture: Gary Ramage

Australian Strategic Policy Institute director Peter Jennings said the evacuation was Australia’s version of the US withdrawal from Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War.

But he blamed US President Joe Biden for the disastrous situation.

“It should not have been allowed to come to this and all of the blame sits squarely at the feet of Joe Biden, for choosing to withdraw the US forces as quickly as he did, forcing Australia and others to also withdraw quickly,” Mr Jennings said.

“Biden withdrew … knowing that what he was doing was creating a full-on disaster. This is one of the worst foreign policy decisions I’ve seen an American president take.”

Analysts say the decision by Joe Biden to pull US troops out of Afghanistan was one of the worst foreign policy decisions by a US president. Picture: AFP

Mr Jennings said no US ally in the Pacific would be “comfortable” with Mr Biden’s choices in Afghanistan.

“What does that mean for the security of Taiwan, or indeed (Australia’s) security … in a time we’re facing our biggest strategic threat since World War II in the form of China,” he said.

Mr Jennings said the small number of allied forces which remained in Afghanistan had given local authorities “confidence” and it was the loss of this that had “led to the Taliban’s success”.

Immigration officials are currently processing about 40 visas for Afghans who claim they worked with the ADF, while hundreds more former contractors are seeking humanitarian visas.

Mr Jennings said he was “glad” Australia was living up to its obligations by extracting Afghan workers.

Taliban fighters have begun to enter the Afghan capital Kabul. Here a Taliban fighter holds a rocket-propelled grenade along the roadside in Herat. Picture: AFP

“I think it would only benefit Australia and be the morally right thing to do to offer a significant number of (humanitarian) visas,” he said.

Australian immigration officials are also expected to travel with the ADF to process outstanding locally engaged employee visas, as well as any others on humanitarian grounds.

When asked what he would say to the families of those who lost their lives in Afghanistan and were now wondering if the conflict was worth it, Mr Morrison said he did not believe any Australian who falls in service “dies in vain”.

“To the families of those 41 Australians, thank you for the sacrifice of your sons,” he said. “The fact that we as a nation stand for freedom and have been prepared to put Australians on the line for that cause is never in vain.”

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia had invested heavily in the wellbeing of Afghan women and girls, who now face brutal reprisals from the Taliban.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that Australian troops will rescue its allies. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Foreign Minister Marise Payne says Australia is urging the Taliban to engage with peace talks. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

But Mr Morrison said Australia was “in no doubt” about the “character” of the Taliban.

“That is why today is such a difficult day,” he said.

“But my efforts, and the efforts of my government, must now focus on our most immediate challenges, and we must continue to provide the support to those who have supported Australia.”

More than 1800 Afghans engaged by Australian forces during the decades-long conflict have been granted visas to come to Australia with their eligible family members.

But the government has come under pressure to broaden its humanitarian assistance, as potentially thousands of Afghan workers who supported Australia do not fall under the strict definition of having been employed by the military.

On Friday the Taliban captured Afghanistan’s second and third largest cities, Kandahar and Herat, as well as the southern city of Lashkar Gah.

Later that day local officials in the Uruzgan province surrendered Tarin Kowt, the former base of Australian soldiers.

On Sunday the key city of Jalalabad fell to the Taliban without a fight, as US helicopters started arriving to evacuate its consulate workers at the embassy in Kabul.

Australians who served in Afghanistan are being encouraged to reach out to support services in what the federal government has conceded is a “distressing time” as the Taliban retakes the country.

Veterans Affairs Minister Andrew Gee said he understood many Australian Defence Force personnel who served in Afghanistan “may feel frustrated, concerned and distressed by what is unfolding there”.

“My primary concern is the wellbeing of all of our veterans, Defence personnel, here at home and abroad, and their families,” he said.

Mr Gee said Australia must “never forget” the 41 soldiers who made the “ultimate sacrifice” for their country in Afghanistan.

“I have asked the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to contact the families of ADF members who lost their lives in Afghanistan, as well as any veterans the Department is aware of who could suffer adversely as a result of what is currently happening in Afghanistan,” he said.

Mr Gee said he encouraged anyone who served to reach out ot support services available.

“If you need to talk but don’t want to disclose your name, please call Safe Zone Support which offers anonymous counselling service for ADF personnel, veterans and their families,” he said.

“Please also reach out to any mates and their families who you know may be finding it difficult at this time.”

Safe Zone Support: 1800 142 072

Originally published as Matt Canavan slammed for insensitive tweet after Taliban take power in Kabul