More Defence news: 17 August 2009 - 23 August 2009

Elections in Afghanistan a success | Tasmania joins Air Warfare Destroyer project | Millions to vote in Afghanistan elections | Navy joins Indonesian celebrations | Engine found at Kokoda crash site | Identification of Kokoda victims begins | Defence welcomes new Secretary

Elections in Afghanistan a success

21 August - The Afghanistan elections have proceeded with minimal disruption, despite the reported 16 incidents involving rocket, mortar and small arms fire in six areas across the Uruzgan province.

The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner said the successful conduct of the elections is a tribute to the resolve of the Afghan people and the efforts of the Australian Defence Force.

“…voters proved their resilience and determination by turning up and casting their votes,” Senator Faulkner said.

“Only one polling centre had to close for less than 30 minutes during the day before resuming operations.”

The attacks included multiple 107mm rocket and 82mm mortar strikes, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire.  Almost all the rocket attacks were fired at maximum distance or were poorly directed.

Australian forces engaged the firing point for one rocket attack against a patrol base to the north of Tarin Kowt using three rounds of canon fire.

Through all these attacks there have been no reports of loss of life or equipment damage.

Security forces will now resume normal duties and continue to put pressure on the Taliban insurgents.

More: Media release | Image gallery

Tasmania joins Air Warfare Destroyer project

21 August - A local Tasmanian shipping company with decades of marine industry experience has won a contract worth more than $25 million with the Air Warfare Destroyer project.
                                                         
Greg Combet, the Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, said the successful company, Taylor Bros, was an icon in Tasmania’s shipbuilding industry and would deliver a range of accommodation products to the Hobart Class AWDs including cabin and sanitary modules, on-board furniture and galley, pantry and scullery equipment.
                               
“Taylor Bros was established in 1936 and has a long and successful history of working with both domestic and international marine-based industries,” Mr Combet said.

“It has won this contract in a highly competitive tender process again demonstrating that Australian companies can win crucial work in the AWDs, in this case supplying the accommodation in which our sailors will live and work.”

The success of the Tasmanian company brings to four the number of Australian states contributing in a major way to the AWD project.

In a separate announcement, Mr Combet also said that the AWD Alliance had signed a contract for the provision of what will be Australia’s biggest crane.

“The crane with a capacity of more than 900 tonnes will be supplied by Manitowoc Crane Group Australia at a cost in the region of $14 million,” Mr Combet said.

At ASC’s shipyard in Adelaide the crane will be used to assemble the ships bringing together the blocks which will make up the AWDs. The blocks will measure up to 18 metres wide and weigh up to 250 tonnes.

“These two announcements show that the AWD project remains on track to deliver the first AWD in 2014,” Mr Combet said.

More: Media release

Millions to vote in Afghanistan elections

20 August - The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, has expressed his best wishes to the people of Afghanistan as they prepare to cast their votes in the Presidential and Provincial Council elections.

Air Chief Marshal Houston said that 6,500 polling stations will open to welcome the votes of the more than 15 million Afghans registered for the poll.

“Through participation alone, the Afghans are demonstrating their commitment to a future without the fear and oppression offered by the Taliban,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

Air Chief Marshal Houston said coalition forces were playing an important role supporting the Afghan National Police and Afghan National Army, the lead agencies for security for the elections.

“We have seen the desperate measures that the Taliban have taken in an attempt to disrupt the elections,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

“Security incidents have recently increased, but this has not deterred the Afghan Government nor its people from preparing for the first Afghan-organised election in 30 years.”

Air Chief Marshal Houston congratulated the efforts of the International Security Assistance Force in providing security support to the election process.

“The Australian Government is making a substantial contribution to support the elections, including an infantry company of 120 troops, additional military airlift capacity to provide logistic support, and $9 million in financial assistance,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

More: Media release

Navy joins Indonesian celebrations

20 August - Hundreds of thousands of locals have turned out to watch a contingent of Royal Australian Navy ships take part in celebrations to mark the 64th Anniversary of Indonesian Independence.

HMAS Darwin and the Hydrographic Survey vessel HMAS Leeuwin were among 38 participating ships in the Indonesian Fleet Review, a centrepiece of the celebrations.

Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral (VADM) Russ Crane, joined his Indonesian hosts and regional counterparts for the Fleet Review, and said it was an opportunity for RAN sailors to meet and interact with sailors from around the world.

VADM Crane added that maintaining Australia’s strong ties with Indonesia is vital and that the RAN’s participation in this event was an example of the strong naval cooperation between our nations.

“More than 45 per cent of our trading volume is exchanged through the Indonesian archipelago,” VADM Crane said.

“This highlights the need for an ongoing strengthening of ties and understanding between our nations, and to continue working together to provide a stable maritime security environment in our region.”

Following the Fleet Review, Success and Darwindeparted company to participate in Exercise Mastex, followed by various port visits and exercises in Asia.

More: Media release | Image gallery

Engine found at Kokoda crash site

19 August - Australian Army Engineers have located the first engine from the PNG Airlines crash site before transporting it to Port Moresby for further investigation.

Using an Army Black Hawk helicopter and the Air Force’s Caribou, air teams worked together in rugged terrain to successfully deliver the engine to Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation officials.

All remains and personal effects discovered so far have been extracted from the crash site and transported to Port Moresby for identification.

The Australian Defence Force continues to provide food, water, and basic supplies to those still working at the site.  

More: Image Gallery

Identification of Kokoda victims begins

18 August - The Australian and Papua New Guinea Defence Forces along with Australian Federal Police and PNG authorities have now extracted the last of the remains of those that died in the Airlines PNG crash near Kokoda.

Using Army Black Hawk helicopters, as well as Air Force Caribou transport aircraft, the ADF provided food, water, and supplies to those working in the remote location.

The focus has now shifted from extraction of remains from the crash site to the victim identification process in Port Moresby.  Due to the complexity of the identification task, it is likely to be some time before the process is complete.

More: Image gallery

Defence welcomes new Secretary

18 August - The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, has welcomed Dr Ian Watt as the new Secretary of the Department of Defence.

Dr Watt joins Defence after his seven-year appointment as Secretary of the Department of Finance and Deregulation, and former role as Secretary of the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts.

“I congratulate Dr Watt on his appointment and I look forward to working with him to deliver results for the Defence organisation, its people and the Government,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

Air Chief Marshal Houston also paid tribute to the outgoing Secretary, Mr Nick Warner.

“Nick and I have enjoyed a very close and trusting relationship and I have valued his wise counsel and friendship,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

“Nick brought a great policy capability to the Department after so many years as a successful diplomat.  He leaves a very important legacy including the 2009 White Paper and the Strategic Reform Program.

“Nick’s great passion and tenacity in driving reform in Defence has been critical.  Under his leadership Defence received the first unqualified financial audit in seven years and he has continued to improve governance.

“He has been courageous and transparent in articulating a range of areas where Defence could improve and has driven a program that will, over time, remediate these issues.”