AUSTRALIAN military will begin training local and federal police in Iraq "to maintain the peace" in the fight against Islamic State, following lengthy talks between Malcolm Turnbull and US Vice- President Joe Biden yesterday. 
Speaking during a joint press conference with Joe Biden, Mr Turnbull said Australia would expand the scope of its role, which has so far been restricted to training the Iraqi military.
"One of the most important objectives now in Iraq is to ensure the Iraqi police forces are able to maintain the peace in areas that have been liberated from ISIL as the Iraqi security forces and counter-terrorism forces progress," the Prime Minister said.
There will be no increase in the 300 ADF personnel involved in the current training operation.
Mr Biden praised the decision, requested by the US government and Iraqi Prime Minister, calling Australians "the best trainers in the world". "You will be part of the reason why they succeed," he said.Mr Biden spoke with the Prime Minister for more than two hours yesterday, discussing the growing threat of terrorism and the need for "intimate collaboration" on security matters, as well as the two countries' trade relationship.