“Senator Bob Brown said on ABC radio today that Australia should not be in Afghanistan. This is obviously an indicator of the Greens' policy for the international coalition forces currently engaged in Afghanistan. Removal of these forces from Afghanistan will bring about the devolution of the democratic process and the re-establishment of the Taliban.

“No one suggests for a moment that what is currently in Afghanistan is the complete democratic process that we would wish for in Australia. However, the fanatical theocratic state, which would be the aspiration of the Taliban, would result in the complete demise of all rights away from the stringent interpretation of Sharia law, which I thought would be something the Greens would have found to be an anathema.

“In light of the recent tragic loss of Australian Sgt Matthew Locke I believe we should re-affirm the battle in Afghanistan for what it is, a noble and just cause against a construct of society which ignores the basic human rights of so many. If this fanatical culture of the Taliban is allowed to propagate further, this would be incredibly destabilising to all countries to which Afghanistan borders and to all countries which have the propensity to be attracted to the Taliban's fundamentalist message.

“In the Greens deciding to extract Australia from engagement in Afghanistan, is inherently the endorsement for other nations to disengage their commitment to that region. What then is the alternate policy path that the Greens will lay down to deliver the people in Afghanistan to the forms of freedom that we enjoy in Australia? Do the Greens believe these freedoms are only for Australians and other countries and other people's must learn they are precluded from them? How do the Greens intend on how we should deal with an embolden extremist element with an overt religiously inspired wish to have others live whether they choose to or not under the tenant's of their religious zeal?

“I believe that the Greens position is one of making a statement that will attract a vote that further endorses the selfish position that all that matters in the world is how you are perceived in Australia and the rhetoric that inspires a vote. This is a very dangerous, populist and selfish approach for a party that is now putting forward the position that they would be the arbiters within the Senate.” Senator Joyce said. Ends