Coalition warns against requiring parliamentary vote to commit Australia to war

The Greens and other reform advocates say the power of the executive to commit Australia to war without parliamentary authorisation has resulted in ‘dire consequences’ in Afghanistan and Iraq. Photograph: Corporal Raymond Vance/Department of Defence/AAP

The federal Coalition has warned against curbing the Australian government’s power to deploy troops to overseas conflicts, with an inquiry considering if such action should require a parliamentary vote.

Reform advocates will use the parliamentary inquiry to argue Australia should follow other democracies in requiring parliamentarians to authorise wars so elected representatives are accountable for the consequences.