Defence chief questions Iraq 2003 findings

The nation's top military commander has disputed an internal Defence analysis that claimed Australia joined the 2003 invasion of Iraq solely to enhance the US alliance.

The analysis also concluded Australia's contribution was of only modest military use and, in many cases, made little sense.

The 572-page document was written between 2008 and 2011 by Albert Palazzo from Defence's Directorate of Army Research and Analysis.

Defence force chief Mark Binskin on Wednesday told a Senate hearing the report wouldn't have the "academic vigour you would put into an official history".

"Nor would it have access to all the information that is required to do a full history and analysis which it sort of started to delve into," he said.

On the report 's central finding Air Chief Marshal Binskin said that was the opinion of Dr Palazzo who didn't have access to cabinet documents.

"I don't think he's in a position to make a full assessment, to be honest," he said.

Officials interviewed for the report were at "working level" without full access to the government-of-the-day's considerations.

Asked to nominate the strategic objectives achieved from Australia's participation in the Iraq invasion, Air Chief Marshal Binskin opted to take the question on notice.