(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
The federal government is likely to finalise a decision to join air strikes against the self-proclaimed Islamic State this week as it awaits a final agreement with Iraq on the deployment.
The final arrangement rests with new Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi.
But as Amanda Cavill reports, the Australian Defence Force says it is ready to act whenever it is called on.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
RAAF Super Hornet jets are on standby in the United Arab Emirates, pending a cabinet decision within days on targeted strikes in Iraq's north.
The Islamic State, also known as ISIL, has carved out territory there in a bloody campaign of terror against the local populations.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has returned to Australia after attending a United Nations Security Council meeting in New York and talking with world leaders over four days.
They have been discussing the threat posed to the outside world by the militants.
The federal government's National Security Committee and cabinet will now meet early this week to discuss Australia's role in the conflict in Iraq.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says a decision is just days away but one factor holding up the deployment so far is ongoing talks with the new Iraqi government.
Ms Bishop says Defence Minister David Johnston has been in Iraq to meet with Dr Abadi's government, trying to finalise the legal framework for Australia's involvement.
"We want to ensure that we have in place the appropriate legal framework to cover the immunities and privileges and protections that our personnel would need. Our defence minister, Senator David Johnston, has been in Baghdad recently, and he's spoken with the Iraqi government. It is a new government. They currently don't have a defence minister, they don't have an interiors minister. So they are cautiously working through the requirements to have foreign forces in their country."
The involvement of Australia in a US-led coalition would be a further escalation of the conflict.
The United States widened its air attack against Islamic State militants in Syria, and British planes joined the fight in Iraq after approval from the UK parliament.
Labor has backed a deployment to Iraq but opposes any involvement in Syria.
Ms Bishop has again played down talk of Australia also becoming involved in Syria, saying Australia has only been asked to support the Iraqi government.
However, she says, if there was a request to join in the Syria attacks, the Government would consider it.
"In the case of Syria, that is a different situation altogether. We've not been invited in by the Syrian regime. I don't expect that we will be working with, or cooperating with, the Syrian regime. The United States and Arab nations are conducting air strikes in Syria under Article 51 of the United Nations charter, the principle of collective self-defence of Iraq. We've not been invited to take part in that. Our invitation is from the Iraqi government. And we're working through what's necessary."
Australia's military forces are waiting the go ahead to enter into action in Iraq against the militants.
Defence head Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, speaking from Fairbairn Air Force Base in Canberra, says the forces are ready to go.
"The forces are over there. They're continuing to integrate and work the plan with the Coalition over there. The Government hasn't made a decision yet to commit on combat operations. I think the Prime Minister said that would look to be decided one way or the other in the coming week. We're ready to go."
Air Task group commander Air Commodore Steve Robertson, in the United Arab Emirates, says his personnel are amongst the best trained in the world.
He says they are more than up to the task ahead.
"We've managed to deploy the largest air task groups into Vietnam. We've gotten over here within days, and we are ready for combat operations. And that training and that professionalism that we put into the young women and men of the Royal Australian Air Force has been showed by their dedication over here. I have every confidence in them, and the Australian people should be proud of them."
Meanwhile, speculation is rife that a new homeland security department may be created as part of Australia's counter-terrorism response.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison would be likely to become head of it.
The super department would take in responsibilities from the defence and attorney general portfolios.
The defence minister, David Johnston, is being suggested as the most likely casualty of any ministerial reshuffle.
The Government is denying the plan, but Tony Abbott admits he has written to all his ministers asking them to write what they think they have achieved in their portfolios.
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