(Transcript from World News Radio)
A contingent of 330 Australian troops is leaving for Iraq, to train Iraqi forces in the fight against the self-declared Islamic State group.
The Australians will work alongside trainers from New Zealand on a mission that could last for up to two years.
Harriet Conron has the details.
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The Australians will be stationed at the Taji military complex, north of Baghdad.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott says they'll have strictly non-combat roles.
He says the deployment is an important part of Australia's contribution to the global fight against forces of the Islamic State.
"Large swathes of Iraqi territory do remain under the control of the death cult. Our build partner capacity mission is all about trying to ensure that the legitimate government of Iraq has a trained and disciplined and capable force that understands the rules of armed conflict at its disposal to retake the country that the, the territory which is currently under the control of the death cult. While this is obviously a matter of international security, it's also a matter of national security for Australia, because as we saw on two occasions last year, this death cult is not just terrorising the people of northern Iraq, it is reaching out to Australia."
The 330 Australians trainers will join 100 from New Zealand at the base.
Head of the Australian Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin says preparation for the joint training mission has already begun.
"Since the Government's previous decision our personnel have worked closely with the New Zealand Defence Force. We've brought together Task force Taji. It's culminated with a very difficult mission rehearsal excercise last week that exercised all that they needed. We're now ready to deploy."
As Australia prepared for its new military training role, Iraqi government forces have been fighting alongside Shi'ite militia fighters against Islamic State.
Recently, they've successfully retaken the city of Tikrit.
But Prime Minister Tony Abbott says Australia will only work with Iraqi government forces.
"Now obviously Shi'ite militia had a significant role along with it seems some Iranian Special Forces in the retaking of Tikrit. I think the stronger the Iraqi regular army is, the less likely it is that Shi'ite militia will play a continuing role in the ultimate retaking of the country. So by strengthening the Iraqi army, we are giving the Iraqi Government a whole lot of options that it may not currently have."
Defence Minister Kevin Andrews says the links between Australia and Islamic militants in the region are clear.
"Unfortunately there are about 90 Australians at the present time currently fighting in the Middle East with Islamic extremist groups and there's about another 140 people that we know of here in Australia who are supporting extremist groups in Iraq and Syria through recruiting, fundraising or seeking actively to travel to join them."
Dr Khairy Majeed, from the Australian-Iraqi Forum, has welcomed the deployment of the Australian training forces.
He says international support for Iraqi government troops is essential in defeating Islamic State forces.
"This terrorist group is not only a threat to Iraq and Iraqi people or the region, but it poses a serious threat to the international community at large and the peace around the world. In my view, Iraq and the Iraqi people are fighting this terrorist group on Iraqi soil on behalf of the international community, and as such, they deserve international support at all levels."
While refusing to commit ground troops, Australia is conducting air strikes against Islamic State targets inside Iraq.
Other partners in the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State in the region are also conducting air strikes in Syria - but Tony Abbott says Australia isn't currrently considering this.
"We've made no decision along those lines and we have no plans to extend our air campaign at this stage. Obviously we're conscious of the fact that the Canadians have indicated that they will extend air strikes into Syria if required. I should point out that our AWAC aircraft and refuelers are supporting coalition air operations throughout the theatre. So while we aren't launching air strikes ourselves inside Syria, we are supporting air strikes by other coalition partners inside Syria."
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