Australian troops have taken over backup security responsibilities for a second Iraqi province.
Now the 490-member task group will perform the security overwatch role for both Al Muthanna and Dhi Qar provinces in southern Iraq.
That follows the handover of security responsibility in Dhi Qar province to Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) last month.
Dhi Qar is the second province to transfer to Iraqi control after Al Muthanna province made the transition in July.
The Australian force was originally based in Al Muthanna but is now operating from the major US base at Tallil, outside the Dhi Qar province capital of Nasiriyah.
The task group is now called Overwatch Battle Group (West). It takes the overwatch role for Dhi Qar from Italian forces, formally handed over at a ceremony at Camp Ur, an Iraqi army basic training centre near Nasiriyah.
Under that role, Australian troops will provide support to Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) in a crisis if requested by the Iraqi Government and the Multi-National Force in Iraq.
That's also subject to Australian Government approval.
Australian troops will continue training Iraqi army personnel at the Basic Training Centre in Tallil.
Commanding Officer of Australian Forces Lieutenant Colonel Michael Mahy thanked the Italians for their work and also thanked the governor and Iraqi Security Forces for hosting the handover ceremony.
"The Australian Defence Force is here to help the people of Iraq," he said at the ceremony.
"We have been working hard in Al Muthanna province, supporting the provincial government and the ISF and we now look forward to doing the same in Dhi Qar.
"The people of Dhi Qar province have achieved a great deal in the last few months by taking control of security."