Australia should consider using ground troops to fight IS: former defense minister

Australia's former defense minister Kevin Andrews on Thursday criticized the government's decision to close the door on a United States request for ground troops to fight Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East.

Andrews, who was stripped of his position when Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull took over from Tony Abbott, said his successor, Marise Payne, should have given a more "favorable consideration" to the request.

He told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that, as one of the United States' closest allys, Australia has a responsibility to closely consider any "reasonable" request.

"(Payne) has information before her... but my general in principle view is that if the Americans have made a reasonable request of us, then we should be giving it the most favorable consideration," Andrews said on Thursday.

"We are a long term, decades-long alliance partner with the U.S. and we should therefore be starting with a favorable consideration of what the U.S. request of us.

Andrews said the U.S. would not request ground support from Australia unless it was certain a war on the ground would help eliminate IS from the region.

"It's quite clear from the advice I received (while as Defense Minister), that for months they were suggesting that we need forces on the ground in order to defeat IS," Andrews said.

On Wednesday evening, the government confirmed that Australia would not comply with the U.S. request, with Payne releasing a statement that said Australia's contribution to the war against IS would not change.

"The government has advised (U.S. defense) secretary Carter that our existing contributions will continue."

Australia currently has FA/18 Hornets bombing targets in Iraq and Syria, while other air support aircraft are conducting missions in the region. Endit