Australia's involvement in the war on Iraq is one of the most controversial issues in the recent history of Australia foreign policy. This report documents Australian interference in the Iraqi economy and it's political institutions, interference that has advantaged Australian commercial interests to the detriment of the interests of the Iraqi people. If offers the first systematic investigation into how the Australian government pursued narrow economic and trade interests in Iraq, frequently under the guise of humanitarian assistance.

" This report details how the Australian Government pursued commercial interests in Iraq against the interests of the Iraqi people, and how it justified the majority of these activities as humanitarian assistance. It did so despite the assurance given on 14 May, 2003 by Prime Minister John Howard to Parliament: “We are not in the business of imposing a particular model of democracy on the Iraqi people. …for only the Iraqi people are in a position to determine what is in their national interest." It has been Australian commercial interests, in particular guaranteeing market access for corporations like AWB and BHP, that has been a driving force behind Australia's aid to Iraq.