Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown held a press conference to discuss the new Parliamentary Budget Office – costings should be mandatory so Australians are able to have confidence in election promises.

He also discussed the war in Afghanistan and the need to hold the government to an annual debate, and he reiterated the need to bring Australian troops home.

A range of questions were answered on topics including the Foster’s takeover; the Migration Act debate; lack of leadership in both major parties; and Palestine.

Senator LUDLAM (Western Australia) (16:22): I move:
That the Senate-
(a) notes:
(i) that on 7 September 2001, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly passed Resolution 55/282 declaring that the International Day of Peace should be observed annually on the fixed date of 21 September, as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence,
(ii) that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has urged member states to support the observance of global ceasefire, and

Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee
Senate Budget Estimates, June 2011
Questions on Notice: AusAID
Question No.26

Senator Ludlam asked on notice
Afghanistan funding:
a) What are the elements of AusAID's funding to Afghanistan?
b) What percentage of aid to Afghanistan is going into maternal mortality prevention?
c) How much donor funding is being provided to Uruzgan by other countries?

Answer:
a) See below for a breakdown of AusAID funding to Afghanistan in 2010-11. (Attached)

Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee
Senate Budget Estimates, June 2011
Questions on Notice: AusAID
Question No. 27

Senator Ludlam asked on notice
a)
Please provide an update on Afghanistan's participation in Phase 2 of the international evaluation of the implementation of the Paris declaration.
b)
Will Australia's total ODA on dual aid efforts in Afghanistan be examined as part of that evaluation?

Question Without Notice
22 August 2011

Senator LUDLAM (Western Australia) (14:28): My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Evans. Documents released to the Western Australian newspaper under freedom of information requests reveal that the government's publicly stated figure of over 180 wounded Australians in Afghanistan tells only a fraction of the story. More than 920 wounded and injured Australian soldiers have received compensation for amputated limbs, severe burns, bullets still lodged in flesh and major depression.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown expressed great sadness today at the loss of another Australian soldier in Afghanistan.

"The Greens join all Australians in offering condolences to his family and friends, and his comrades in Afghanistan, and we are grateful for his service to the nation.”
 
Twenty-nine Australian soldiers have now lost their lives while serving in Afghanistan.

The Australian Greens today called on the Federal Government to commit to revealing the actual numbers of wounded and injured Australian soldiers in Afghanistan, successfully securing the promise of a review in the way in which casualties are reported.

Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said the Australian people are entitled to know the full cost of the war without needing to use Freedom of Information laws to secure the truth.

QUESTION No. 577

Senator Ludlam: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Defence-