An informal hearing is being held in Canberra on Friday to debate a long-standing proposal that would require parliamentary approval to send Australian troops to war.
The so-called 'War Powers' Bill is a decades-old piece of unfinished business, introduced by the Australian Democrats in the 1980s and carried forward by the Australian Greens.
The bill is the subject of a committee inquiry by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade which decided against holding a public hearing into the bill.
"I've taken the unusual step of convening a hearing in Parliament House, with or without the major parties," said Senator Scott Ludlam who re-introduced the bill in 2008.
"The evidence we take from an impressive witness line-up will be submitted to the committee and placed in the public domain to further the debate.
Against a backdrop of the UK inquiry into the Iraq war, this hearing will provide an opportunity for those for and against the bill to present their positions and consider counter arguments. It will be held from 9am-1pm on February 12th in Senate Committee Room 1S5.
9am-1pm February 12, 2010
Senate Committee Room 1S5.
Participants will include:
Brigadier Adrian D'Hage
Professor Colin Warbrick, who assisted the UK Parliamentary committee inquiry
Neil James, Australian Defence Association
Paul Barratt AO, former Defence Secretary
Professor Helen Ware, University of New England
Richard Griffiths, Director of the Maritime Association
Dr. Sue Wareham, Medical Association for Prevention of War
Bill Rowling, Civil Liberties Association
Former Senator Andrew Bartlett, original sponsor of the bill
Nick Deane, Marrickville Peace Group
Senator Ludlam and others are available for interview. Please contact 6277 3467