Secret cabinet documents released: Why Australia stuck by the US in Iraq in 2004

Secret cabinet documents from 2004 have been released by the National Archives of Australia, revealing why John Howard’s government stuck by the United States alliance, despite revelations that year that Iraq did not have stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction.

In January 2004 weapons Inspector David Kay told US politicians, “we were almost all wrong, and I certainly include myself here.”

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Cabinet documents reveal why Howard government stood by US over Iraq.

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“It is highly unlikely that there were large stockpiles of deployed militarised chemical and biological weapons there.”

It was a crippling blow to the war’s legitimacy, as it was the core reason for the invasion that Australia had backed in, putting troops on the ground.

Then Liberal Prime Minister John Howard has again defended his government’s decision to stay in Iraq and back the US alliance, telling 7NEWS: “Intelligence is always a bit hit and miss.

“We failed to find the stockpiles, we did not fail to find the capacity to make them,” Mr Howard said in a sit-down interview.

“It was always a divisive issue. The thing that hurt us most was the decisions taken after the invasion of Iraq to dismantle the Iraqi Army and their public services related to that.

“That was a mistake by the Americans, and it really caused a lot of internal chaos. The internal chaos was more destructive than the failure to not find stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction.”

The newly released 2004 cabinet documents reveal Australia tipped another $644 million into the Iraq War effort.

In February 2004 the Minister for Defence, Robert Hill, emphasised that a continued Australian military presence in Iraq was a ‘demonstrable example of our commitment to the United States alliance, and our willingness to help the United States address international threats and promote global security.’

Spying on Timor-Leste

Another divisive scandal from that year would remain a secret for a decade.

Spies for the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) had in 2004 allegedly placed listening devices in a room adjacent to the Timor-Leste prime minister’s office in Dili to obtain information, giving Australia the upper hand in negotiations over the oil and gas fields in the Timor Gap.

Several Cabinet submissions relate to negotiations over maritime boundaries, including with Timor-Leste. Prime Minister John Howard is tight-lipped about the scandal.

When quizzed about the alleged behaviour of ASIS agents he said: “I thought they would have always behaved in a way that promoted the Australian nation interest.”

Election heroics

In 2004 John Howard won a famous election victory over Labor Leader Mark Latham, clawing his way back from negative polling at the start of the year.

The Coalition’s decision to back Tasmanian timber loggers jobs over green concerns was seen as a pivotal decision, made not through the cabinet process, but on the run during the campaign.

Unions and workers embraced John Howard at a rally ,and turned their back on their traditional party Labor and Mark Latham.

History could be repeating in 2025, with a decision on the future of salmon farming in the Apple Isle looming over the next election.

The industry could be paused in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour to help the endangered Maugean skate.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has pushed back a decision until after the election, but the Coalition is vowing to protect jobs if it wins.

John Howard says he is watching the debate eagerly.

“Let me put it this way, I am following the salmon industry closely,” he said.

“I can feel for the workers.”

The former Pm didn’t want to give Anthony Albanese any free advice on what decision to make, but it could prove pivotal to who wins the key to the lodge in 2025.