19 June 2009
Parliamentary Program 2009 to East Timor

The Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program 2009 is designed to offer Senators and Members of Parliament the opportunity to spend time with the men and women of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The Parliamentarians visited East Timor for four days, while attached to companies of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF).

During their visit Senator Trish Crossin was based at the Helicopter Pod of Departure (HPOD), the Hon. Nigel Scullion MP at Forward Operating Base Baucau, the Hon. Peter Slipper MP based at Forward Operation Base Chauvel and Ms Belinda Neal MP at Forward Operating Base Gleno. The four were given an introduction to ISF life with familiarisation and safety briefs, then delivered to their new home.
Operation ASTUTE is the ADF contribution to the Australian Government's response to a request from the Government of East Timor to assist in restoring peace and stability to their country.

The ADF has deployed to East Timor with a mission to assist the East Timorese government and the United Nations to bring stability, security and confidence to the Timorese people to allow them to resolve their differences peacefully. The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is working alongside the ADF to assist with this mission.

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Commander International Stabilisation Force Brigadier Bill Sowry welcomes the Hon. Peter Slipper MP to East Timor.

(Date taken: 23 March 2009)
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Senator Trish Crossin and the Hon. Nigel Scullion MP meet Commander International Stabilisation Force Brigadier Bill Sowry after arriving in East Timor.

(Date taken: 23 March 2009)
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The Hon. Nigel Scullion and Member for Robertson Belinda Neal MP meet Commander International Stabilisation Force Brigadier Bill Sowry after arriving in East Timor.

(Date taken: 23 March 2009)
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Commander International Stabilisation Force Brigadier Bill Sowry welcomes the Hon. Peter Slipper MP, Senator Trish Crossin, Member for Robertson Belinda Neal MP and the Hon. Nigel Scullion MP to East Timor.

(Date taken: 23 March 2009)
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Commander International Stabilisation Force Brigadier Bill Sowry welcomes Senator Trish Crossin, the Hon. Peter Slipper MP, the Hon. Nigel Scullion MP and Member for Robertson Belinda Neal MP, to East Timor.

(Date taken: 23 March 2009)
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Warrant Officer Class Two Paul Holstein briefs members of the Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program after arriving at Camp Phoenix, East Timor.

(Date taken: 23 March 2009)
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The Hon. Nigel Scullion MP takes in aerial views of East Timor during a BlackHawk helicopter trip to Forward Operating Base Baucau.

(Date taken: 24 March 2009)
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The Hon. Nigel Scullion MP and Mr Cos Cameron step off a Black Hawk helicopter after arriving at Forward Operating Base Baucau.

(Date taken: 24 March 2009)
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The Hon. Nigel Scullion MP is welcomed to Baucau by Officer Commanding Forward Operating Base Baucau Major Sean Kearns and Commander International Stabilisation Force Brigadier Bill Sowry.

(Date taken: 24 March 2009)
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The Hon. Nigel Scullion MP is briefed on operations in Baucau by Officer Commanding Forward Operating Base Baucau Major Sean Kearns and Commander International Stabilisation Force Brigadier Bill Sowry.

(Date taken: 24 March 2009)
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Corporal Althea Johnson of Beaudesert Queensland and Senator Trish Crossin patrol through a downtown Dili market place. Senator Crossin is in East Timor as part of the Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program.

(Date taken: 25 March 2009)
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Senator Trish Crossin enjoys an International Stabilisation Patrol patrol through a downtown Dili market place. Senator Crossin is in East Timor as part of the Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program.

(Date taken: 25 March 2009)
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Corporal Althea Johnson of Beaudesert Queensland, Senator Trish Crossin and Corporal Ethan Fisher of Sandgate, Queensland, patrol through a downtown Dili market place. Senator Crossin is in East Timor as part of the Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program.

(Date taken: 25 March 2009)
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Ms Belinda Neal MP enjoys a meal with soldiers at Forward Operating Base Gleno, East Timor. Ms Neal is in East Timor as part of the Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program.

(Date taken: 25 March 2009)
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Lieutenant Justin McBurney of Carnarvon, Western Australia shares a joke with Ms Belinda Neal MP during her visit to Forward Operating Base Gleno, East Timor.

(Date taken: 25 March 2009)
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(Right to left) The Hon. Peter Slipper MP and Commander International Stabilisation Force Brigadier Bill Sowry are met by a group of East Timorese children during a street patrol through Dili, East Timor.

(Date taken: 26 March 2009)
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The Hon. Peter Slipper MP chats with members of the International Stabilisation Force during a street patrol through Dili, East Timor.

(Date taken: 26 March 2009)
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The Hon. Peter Slipper MP with members of Golf Company's 7-1C call sign during a foot patrol through Dili, East Timor.

(Date taken: 26 March 2009)
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