Defence Minister Robert Hill said that as each of Australia's force elements finished their jobs, they would be brought home.

The Australian contingent of 2,000 service personnel, ships and aircraft are the third force in the US-led coalition.

Hill said that as more of Iraq came under coalition control, the work of the F/A-18 jets would be reduced.

"But it really depends on what happens over the next few days, and probably the next week or so, before we could make an assessment as to any timeline," he told reporters.

But he thought there would be work for the secretive SAS, which specialises in long-range reconnaissance, for quite some time.

Australian Defence Force (ADF) spokesman Brigadier Mike Hannan said Australia's military role in post-war Iraq was a matter for the government and no decision had yet been made.

"There's obviously a considerable debate and discussion to take place to determine what roles -- military and other -- would be appropriate for Australia, and the ADF of course, as always, stands by to meet the government's requirements," he said.

The government has announced that it will replace two frigates, HMAS Anzac and HMAS Darwin, with one, the Sydney, at the end of this month because of a reduced need.

Two Orion long-range reconnaissance aircraft and their crews, deployed in January for 12 months, will be rotated.

SPACE.WIRE