Iraq military posts could be costly: Abbott

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has revealed that our military involvement in Iraq is likely to cost the nation half a billion dollars each year.

From a remote briefing room in Arnhem Land, Mr Abbott has kept in close contact with defence and security chiefs back in the Canberra briefing room.

“There is a growing international coalition: a coalition of the concerned,” Mr Abbott said.

“There is no existing government which is not under mortal threat from the ISIL movement”.

The US has struck targets near Baghdad in recent days, while French fighter jets have commenced reconnaissance missions over Iraq.

While Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has been bipartisan in supporting moves to protect Australia, Labor MP Melissa Parke has questioned entering an open-ended war.

“The drum beats of war have started and I think we should be really careful”.

While Mr Abbott intends to stay the full week in Arnhem Land, he may be forced to leave early depending on developments.