(Transcripts from SBS World News Radio)
The Greens have failed in a bid to make new Australian military operations in Iraq subject to approval by federal parliament.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced over the weekend that Australia would join the United States and other allies in delivering arms to Kurdish fighters battling Islamic State militants in Iraq.
The escalation of Australia's involvement in the conflict prompted calls for parliamentary endorsement of any decision that involves military action.
Amanda Cavill reports.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
Australian defence personnel will within days deliver weapons sourced from eastern Europe to Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State extremists in Iraq's north.
Greens leader Christine Milne moved a motion in the Senate, calling on the Australian parliament to be brought into the debate about such operations.
"Isn't it time that the Australian people, through the Australian people's Parliament, were fully informed? And I think it's time the government gave us a much clearer explanation. But the point remains, the Australian Parliament now needs to be consulted and approval needs to be sought from the representatives of the people before we put in harm's way our Australian armed servicemen and women."
Labor's defence spokesman Stephen Conroy says the role of Parliament as a place of debate should not be confused with government decisions requiring parliamentary approval.
He says the role of the Parliament in approving military action is fraught with danger.
"The government must retain maximum flexibility to respond to threats to Australia's national security quickly and efficiently. Requiring a statement from the government prior to deploying ADF personnel and assets could unnecessarily increase the risk to the deployment. Furthermore, the government of the day has access to classified information which the Parliament does not. A requirement for parliamentary approval could also create situations where ADF personnel are deployed to a war-like environment without the appropriate legal authority or important legal protections."
Australian Air Force transport planes will be involved in the weapons airlift to northern Iraq, which also includes the United States, Canada, Italy, France and Britain.
It's unclear how many flights will be needed, or whether the supplies will be guarded by armed special forces.
Defence Minister David Johnston says a parliamentary debate would delay the action and put lives at risk just when the Kurdish people need international support.
"We would not want to see that resistance fail for want of ammunition or other supplies. And of course, we will participate with our friends and allies. I should say, this matter in Iraq has engaged and has the support on our side, the Saudi, the Emirates, the Jordanians, the Turk, the UK, the French, the German, the Italians and the European Union.
The Prime Minister says military action is a matter for the executive government, not the parliament.
"This idea that Australian forces cannot be deployed until the parliament has met and approved the mission, I think, is novel to say the least when it comes to the deployment of military forces by Australia. There are all sorts of circumstances in which Australian forces could be deployed, must be deployed, where you couldn't have a parliamentary debate prior to their deployment. This Government's intention is to abide by the standard conventions which have always been applied to the deployment of Australian military forces."
The Greens' motion in the Senate was defeated 13-44, with Senator Leyonhjelm, independent Nick Xenophon and the Palmer United Party's Jacqui Lambie voting with the Greens.
In the House of Representatives, the sole Greens MP Adam Bandt failed in his bid to bring on a similar debate.
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