Annual Report 2004-05

Outcome Five: Strategic Policy

Strategy Group provided military, strategic and policy advice to enable the Government to make sound judgements on, and respond to, changes in Australia's strategic environment. This included managing international defence relationships and expanding Australia's counter proliferation efforts. Strategy Group also supported operations, exercises and the development of future Defence capability.

Through Defence Attachés and liaison officers overseas, and by working with foreign defence representatives in Australia, Strategy Group advanced Australia's relationships with overseas defence partners and allies. The Group also managed the Defence Cooperation Program, which provides financial and military assistance in our region.

Performance Summary

Strategy Group worked effectively across Defence and with other government agencies to provide high-quality, coordinated advice to the Government on key strategic issues facing Australia. This included advice on current deployments, the war against terrorism, international responses to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, efforts to improve regional security and enhance stability in the region, and Defence support to domestic security. Strategy Group also produced strategic advice on the rebalancing of Defence capabilities to better reflect changes in the strategic environment and developing lessons learned from Australia's involvement in recent operations. Strategy Group managed and strengthened bilateral defence relationships to support the Government's security objectives. During the reporting period, the Group:

• managed Defence programs to develop regional countries counter-terrorism capabilities and improve their interoperability with Defence counter-terrorism elements;
• provided Defence policy advice to shape government consideration of regional counter-terrorism assistance;
• provided international policy advice to support ADF planning and conduct of Operation Sumatra Assist;
• provided advice on enhancing our alliance with the United States, including initiatives such as Missile Defence cooperation, the Joint Combined Training Centre, cooperation with the United States in regional international engagement and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities;
• provided policy advice on Australian deployments to Iraq, building new Iraqi security institutions and creating a new bilateral defence relationship with the government of Iraq;
• provided advice to government on options for Australian involvement in Afghanistan, including support to the Special Forces Task Group deployed to Afghanistan;
• developed Defence strategic estimates for current and prospective future operational requirements;
• coordinated Defence involvement in the international Proliferation Security Initiative, which now has the support of over 60 nations and has been established as a central part of international efforts to counter-proliferation;
• contributed advice on Defence's roles and capabilities to whole-of-government reviews of Australia's domestic security;
• coordinated advice on changes to Defence's involvement in regional peacekeeping operations in East Timor and Solomon Islands;
• provided advice to the Minister for Defence and senior Defence officials to support their involvement in bilateral and multilateral visits and activities; and
• administered the export control system for military and dual use goods.

Australia's strong defence relationships in the Asia Pacific region were sustained by broad based programs of dialogue, training and joint projects. In addition, Defence continued to provide substantial support to the Pacific patrol boat program, the Papua New Guinea Defence Force reform program and a wide range of Defence Cooperation activities with other nations. The Group coordinated Defence engagement with major powers and traditional friends.

The Group also manages the funding agreement between the Government and the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (APSI). APSI was established in 2001 to function as an independent strategic policy research centre. The Institute drew $2.261m in 2004-05 and will draw $2.632m in 2005-06. The funding will see ASPI commit to a core research program and public engagement plan of benefit to Defence, and contribute to public debate through the publication of a specified number of reports and a program of seminars, workshops and Government-Academic strategic dialogues.