Defense minister who oversaw Australian deployment in Iraq resigns
Defense Minister Robert Hill, who oversaw Australia’s controversial troop deployment to Iraq, resigned, opening the way for a reshuffle of Prime Minister John Howard’s 10-year-old government. Hill, 59 and one of Howard’s longest-serving cabinet members, announced he was stepping down immediately as defense minister and would also retire in coming weeks from the Senate, where he has served for 25 years. Full Story