Time might be up for Australian troops in Iraq by the end of the year when a United Nations mandate for coalition forces expires, a senior Iraqi MP says.
And Dr Haider al Abadi, chair of Iraq's economy, reconstruction and investment committee, says there are no ongoing talks for a status of forces agreement between Australia and Iraq, which would allow diggers to remain.
Dr al Abadi is part of a 10-member delegation from Iraq's Council of Representatives visiting Canberra on Wednesday and Thursday.
In line with the Rudd government's election commitment, combat forces left Iraq in the middle of the year but, according to the Defence website, Australia still has 980 troops involved in Operation Catalyst.
They are based in Iraq and around the Middle East.
The number based in Iraq is unclear but includes the 110-strong Australian Security Detachment (SECDET), which guards Australian diplomats in Baghdad.
Dr al Abadi said Australia had played a crucial role in training Iraqi security forces, and its forces had a very positive image in his homeland.
"(But) the Australian presence in the security field, I don't think it will be needed any further," he told reporters.
"Now there is a great role for Australia and Australian firms to take part in the building of the infrastructure of Iraq."
Last month, Iraqi politicians voted for a withdrawal of United States forces by 2011.
Coalition forces presently operate under a UN mandate, which expires at the end of this year.
Without a status of forces agreement in place with Australia, Dr al Abadi believes it may be necessary for Australian troops in Iraq to leave when the mandate expires.
"At the moment there is no treaty, no agreement between Iraq and Australia for Australian forces, only the one agreement with the US forces," he said.
"I don't think the Australian forces can stay beyond the end of this year without this agreement.
"We have to look at that back in Iraq - I don't think there are even negotiations going on between the two countries, so my understanding is Australian forces are probably going to leave by the end of the year."
The only exception would be forces guarding Australian diplomats.
The Iraqi delegation is expected to meet Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon on Thursday.
A Defence spokesperson said Australia was in discussions with Iraq and the US on how it could continue to contribute to Iraq's future, including through ongoing Defence assistance.
"The Australian government remains committed to assisting Iraq and our coalition partners in achieving long-term stability and security in that country," the spokesperson said.
"We know the Iraq government values our input to these efforts and we consider Australian Defence personnel still have an important contribution to make."
But Australian forces would only remain in Iraq with appropriate legal protections.
"Australia's focus is increasingly on supporting the Iraqi people through an expanded humanitarian aid program, including capacity building, infrastructure and development projects," the spokesperson said.