Meeting of the Global Coalition to Combat Daesh

Today I will attend a meeting in Paris of the Small Group of the Global Coalition to Combat Daesh. The meeting will be co-chaired by Iraqi Prime Minister al-Abadi, French Foreign Minister Fabius and US Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The Australian Government is committed to working with our international partners to combat Daesh, which represents a serious threat to international security. Today's meeting is critical to agree on a strategy and vision for fighting Daesh.

I will reaffirm Australia's commitment to the global coalition, emphasising our significant military and humanitarian assistance. I will also hold discussions with a range of leaders and ministers, including Iraqi Prime Minister al-Abadi and UK Foreign Secretary Hammond.

Australia is contributing more than 300 Australian Defence Force personnel to the Building Partner Capacity mission in Iraq, to build the capacity of the Iraqi Security Forces. Our personnel are also advising and assisting the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service and conducting air operations against Daesh in Iraq.

I am also pleased to announce that Australia will contribute a further $8 million to the World Food Programme in Iraq to deliver urgent food assistance to people in need. This will bring Australia's total humanitarian response to the crisis in Iraq to $30 million since June 2014.

We have also provided $155.8 million in humanitarian assistance in response to the Syria crisis since 2011.