We did talk of Ukraine military action: Tony Abbott

TONY Abbott has confirmed military discussions with the Dutch did cover the prospect of a troop ­deployment to Ukraine.

TONY Abbott has confirmed in parliament that “important” and “necessary” military discussions with the Dutch did cover the prospect of a significant joint troop ­deployment to Ukraine.

The proposed deployment was to secure the crash site of MH17, which was downed in disputed territory, allegedly by pro-Russian rebels, after the Prime Minister warned that the bodies of dead Australian were at risk of being “violated”.

A total of 38 Australian residents and citizens were among the 298 passengers who were on board the Malaysia Airlines plane when it was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17 last year.

Mr Abbott provided the explanation after being questioned by Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek about a report in The Australian last August.

The report said Mr Abbott was “ready to send 1000 Australian troops into Ukraine” as part of a joint deployment and “detailed plans” were drawn up. Mr Abbott abandoned the idea when it was no longer necessary.

While Mr Abbott did not ­directly dispute that a figure of 1000 troops was canvassed, he clarified that the number was not initially raised by him and nor was it a “frivolous” issue. “There was talk with the Dutch about a joint operation,” he said.

“Was it suggested, was the number (of 1000 troops) that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition put to me, suggested by me? No. Was this some kind of frivolous exercise by me? No.

“This arose out of the most ­important and the most necessary discussion between the Dutch military and our own to uphold and defend our vital national interest.”

He said that, in the days following the shooting down of MH17, discussions took place about “what might be done” to ensure the bodies were recovered.

“We did talk to the Dutch about this, as the Australian people would have expected,” he said. “We were not going to allow dead Australians to be violated … We will never, never apologise for standing up for the rights of Australians here and abroad.”

However, when pressed by ­Opposition Leader Bill Shorten about whether he had ever participated in any discussions in which a unilateral ground invasion of Iraq was considered, Mr Abbott said: “No, I haven’t.”

Mr Abbott read aloud a statement issued earlier yesterday by the nation’s civil and military chiefs, saying the Prime Minister did not raise the prospect of a “unilateral invasion of Iraq” either ­informally or formally with the ADF or the Defence Department.

The Weekend Australian reported that, on November 25, Mr ­Abbott said during a meeting that Australia could take a lead with a unilateral invasion of ­northern Iraq using 3500 ground troops.

It was further reported that Mr Abbott then raised the proposal with military planners who were left aghast at the plan.

However, the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, and the Secretary of the Department of Defence, Dennis Richardson, issued a written statement denying that a proposal for a unilateral deployment of 3500 ground troops to Iraq was raised with the department or the ADF.

“At no point has the Prime Minister raised that idea with the ADF and/or the Department of Defence, formally or informally, directly or indirectly,” said Air Chief Marshal Binskin and Mr Richardson.

The Australian stands by the report. Editor Clive Mathieson said: “We stand by the story 100 per cent.”

Mathieson said there was no suggestion in The Weekend Australian’s articles that Mr Abbott “formally” sought advice on a ­deployment of 3500 troops to Iraq.