Llew O’Brien weighs in on Afghanistan crisis

The need to help the people left behind in the wake of the United State’s rapid withdrawal from the country cannot trump keeping Australia’s people safe, Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien says.

Australia must stay strict on who it lets into the country despite the “heartbreaking” humanitarian crisis unfolding in Afghanistan, Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien has said.

The outspoken MP, who threatened to cross the floor if it would secure a royal commission into veteran suicide, said on Tuesday the images at Hamid Karzai Airport showed the “fear and desperation” of those who have been left behind in the war torn country where 41 Australian soldiers have been killed since 2001.

But, he said, Australia’s security had to come first.

“It’s heartbreaking to see Afghanistan being torn apart yet again,” Mr O’Brien said.

“For centuries the country has faced war and conflict and it’s an extremely complex part of the world and there clearly are no easy solutions.”

The country was tipped into turmoil following the United State’s military withdrawal following two decades of operations.

Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien says the images from Afghanistan are heartbreaking but Australia had to maintain rigorous security assessments.

The Taliban has stepped into the void, taking control of Kabul’s palace on Tuesday afternoon and forcing residents to risk their lives in their attempts to flee the country.

“The images of people at Hamid Karzai Airport show their fear and desperation and we want to help them, but our own security must come first,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The need for rigorous security assessments is evident by the 2012 green on blue attack where three Australian soldiers were killed by a man in an Afghan army uniform.

The crisis unfolded following the rapid withdrawal of the United States military under president Joe Biden. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski / AFP)

“Double agents have posed a serious, dangerous and life threatening risk in Afghanistan.

“We need to ensure that the people who seek to come to Australia do not pose a security threat to Australians.

“Allegiances and associations can shift over time.

“The people who may have supported Australia in some capacity in Afghanistan some years, or a decade or more ago, might not have those allegiances now.

Afghan residents have been left desperately seeking any way to escape the country as it falls under the control of the Taliban. (Photo by Wakil Kohsar / AFP)

“They need to be screened and we need to take advice from the security agencies, but where they pose a threat to our nation’s security our government’s position is clear, they won’t be allowed to come to Australia.”

He said 430 people have been brought into Australia from Afghanistan over the past four months.

In the past eight years about 1500 protection Visas were granted to Afghans “including to those who helped the allied forces and interpreters”.

Shocking photos and video of people dying while trying to flee on departing planes have emerged from the crisis. (Photo by Wakil Kohsar / AFP)

“Up until now the majority of applications have been successful but where there’s a risk to the Australian people the applications have been, and will be rejected.”

Mr O’Brien said Australia’s involvement in the conflict has had bipartisan support from the country’s two major parties and the servicemen deserved respect.

“The Australian Defence Force personnel who served in Afghanistan will always deserve our respect, just as those who served in Vietnam or in any other conflict rightfully deserve our respect and gratitude for their service and their commitment to our nation.

“We honour and remember the 41 defence force personnel who lost their lives and the 39,000 Australian men and women who served in Afghanistan.”