Australia plans to step up its military numbers in Iraq in a joint effort with New Zealand to train security forces in the fight against Islamic State.
The NZ government says it will send 143 soldiers as part of a 400-strong joint Australia-NZ training team, subject to agreement from Canberra.
The team is expected to be deployed to the Taji military complex north of Baghdad in May, for up to two years.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who will be in Auckland on Friday and Saturday for talks with his NZ counterpart John Key, will announce details of the plan within days.
He says he has been talking to the Iraqi government about what more Australia could do.
"Obviously that includes the New Zealanders, about what more we can do to help the Iraqi security forces and I'll have more to say in the next day or so," he told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.
Defence force chief Mark Binskin earlier told a Senate estimates hearing he and his NZ counterpart had developed options which had been put to both governments.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the national security committee of cabinet was reviewing the Iraq commitment.
"We have had our presence in Iraq under constant review to ensure that we're achieving the best outcomes," she said.
Australia has 600 personnel in Iraq including special forces involved in training Iraqi and Kurdish military, six Super Hornets, a KC-30 airborne refuelling aircraft and a Wedgetail airborne control aircraft.
Australian combat aircraft have dropped some 200 precision guided bombs.
Mr Key said the operation would be "behind the wire and limited to training Iraqi security forces" and would not be badged an Anzac force.
Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek said it would be best if Mr Abbott made his announcement in parliament.
"Elected representatives of the Australian population (would) have an opportunity then to consider and respond," she said.
Labor's conditions on the Iraq mission were that there were no ground troops, activities were within the borders of Iraq and not in Syria, and it ended when the Iraqi government could defend its own people.
Former Defence department secretary Paul Barrett, who heads Australians for War Powers Reform, said fears of "mission creep" were being realised.
"The fate of our ADF personnel, and the people in whose countries they fight, should not be vulnerable to the judgments or misjudgments of a single person, especially one prone to captain's call decisions," he said.
Share
