This is an admission of the abject failure of Australia's involvement in Afghanistan. The whole point was to make conditions safe for those who lived there. If conditions are now unsafe for the interpreters presumably many others left behind are now at risk. Add to that the death and injury toll of both locals and occupiers as well as the financial expense the whole exercise seems like a waste.

My hunch is that western forces will go back there as the situation deteriorates. Will they need new interpreters? It seems like an endless cycle.

Peter Dutton is the only person to decide what he "must" do. I doubt that he would feel that interfering with the immigration minister's duties is a must; he is the defence minister. Afghanistan has nothing to do with the defence of Australia, nor do foreigners pathetically described as "angels". Those people did what they did, foolishly not knowing the history of outside meddling by superpowers in their country. They picked the wrong side, and must now pay for it.

Our interference in Vietnam saw the arrival of boatloads of illegals arriving from that country. Geography makes it harder for Afghans to pull the same stunt. Let's keep it that way; and in future, refrain from getting involved in shitehole countries where we can make no difference whatever.

"getting involved in shitehole countries where we can make no difference whatever"
You`ve been there I take it?

ttbn,
As long as Dutton serves as a cabinet minister, the PM decides what he must do.
And anywhere where Australia's defence force spends nearly twenty years has a lot to do with Australia.

You yourself seem quite ignorant of the history of Afghanistan; the Taliban are themselves the result of Pakistani meddling.

We should not betray our allies to their deaths - it really is that simple.

Aidan,
Problem is how to tell ally from foe ? What can we do about keeping Australia safe from the enemy within, the Leftists ?

The whole sorry mess provides a lesson on what sort of places we
should not get involved with.
Look at it since Alexander the Great's time foreign armies have had a hard time of it.
In the 18th & 19th centuries the British Army had a hard time.
It has had a history of internal wars between war lords.
It is still in a civil war, what changed ?
It is an Islamic country so nothing will change to improve the status
of women, one of the reasons for being in the country.
They are classic no-hopers.
Is there an Islamic country you would like to live in ?