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Former Aussie MP ignored "do not travel" warning during unoffical Iraq visit: FM

Xinhua, September 30, 2016 Adjust font size:

A former Australian government minister has been criticized for his decision to disregard the nation's "do not travel" warning and venture to a region of Iraq under threat by Islamic State (IS) forces.

Wyatt Roy, former Assistant Minister for Innovation, who was not re-elected at the July 2 federal election, recently traveled to the war-torn region to visit Kurdish forces near Mosul and without government approval, something Foreign Minister Julie Bishop described as reckless and "irresponsible".

Bishop released a statement overnight condemning Roy's actions and said he was not acting in the way a former government minister should.

She said politicians have the responsibility to follow all directive of the government, including "do not travel" warnings unless on official, mandated business.

"Official Australian government advice for all Australians is 'do not travel' to Iraq," Bishop's statement said.

"It is irresponsible of Wyatt Roy to travel to the front line of the conflict between IS and Kurdish forces in Northern Iraq, in a region regarded as very high risk.

"He has placed himself at risk of physical harm and capture, and acted in defiance of government advice."

She said although his sojourn to the region had the hallmarks of an official visit, he wrote a piece for The Australian newspaper and had a photographer with him, the government in no way approved his trip or condones his actions.

"Mr. Roy did not seek nor did he receive assistance from the Australian government for his travel to Iraq," Bishop said.

"The government does not endorse or approve of Mr. Roy's actions, and strongly urges other Australians to follow the official advice of 'do not travel to Iraq'."

Under current laws in Australia, it is illegal to travel to certain parts of Syria, and while it's technically legal to travel to the Peshmerga region of Iraq, the government actively discourages Australian citizens from doing so.

Overnight, Roy told SBS TV in Australia that he traveled to the region "to visit and see (the war zone) for myself, in a way that I really couldn't have done as a member of parliament".

He said he was at one point caught up in a firefight between Islamic State militants and local Kurdish forces before he was told to leave the area. Endit