National day to honour Australia’s Afghanistan troops

Peter Dutton says the day will mark Australia’s efforts in the Middle East that cost the lives of 41 Diggers and scarred a generation.

Australia has withdrawn its last remaining troops from Afghanistan ahead of September 11 this year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Australian troops who served in Afghanistan and Iraq will be honoured with a national day of commemoration, as the federal government confirmed the nation’s longest war was officially over.

The Australian understands Governor-General David Hurley proposed the idea to Scott Morrison.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton said the day would pay tribute to the great sacrifice of the two-decade conflict that cost the lives of 41 Diggers and scarred a generation of veterans.

“The contribution of our troops over a very long time has contributed to a period of stability, the ability for girls to be educated and, importantly from our perspective and that of our Five Eyes partners, there has not been an attack the scale of 9/11 for over 20 years,” he told Sky News on Sunday.

“I want those Diggers to hear very clearly the message that because of their efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, they have stopped terrorist attacks from taking place in our country, in the US, the UK, Canada and New Zealand and elsewhere.”

Mr Dutton said Australians were “eternally grateful” for the nation’s troops who served in the Middle East.

The national day is expected to be given approval when parliament resumes in August. The date has not been decided.

Mr Dutton said Australia remained committed to following a “rigorous” approach for granting protection visas and would not compromise on its security clearances. “We don’t make any apologies for that … my job, my responsibility, is to make sure we act swiftly to … get those people here who have provided us with support,” he said.

“We will continue to do the right thing. Since 2013, 1480 visas have been issued to these interpreters and their families, those locally engaged employees.”

The Australian has revealed that hundreds of Afghan interpreters, aid workers and security guards who worked for the Australian government during the two-decade conflict have been left in limbo, including many with multiple character references from ADF personnel.

Mr Dutton confirmed that the last of Australia’s troops had been withdrawn from Afghanistan, bringing to an end almost 20 years in the war-torn country.

He said the decision to withdraw ahead of the September deadline was based on advice from the Chief of the Australian Defence Force.

“That doesn’t mean that we won’t be part of campaigns with the US, perhaps involving the SAS or special forces when we deem that to be in our national interest or the interest of our allies,” he said.

The US pulled all its combat troops out of Bagram Air Base on Thursday but 650 of its troops will remain as security for the embassy.

US President Joe Biden had pledged to withdraw all American forces by September 11 — the 20-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.