Annual Report 2004-05

Outcome Five: Strategic Policy

Defence Cooperation

South Pacific Region

The Defence Cooperation Program in the South Pacific region grew in 2004-05 by $0.7m, to cover costs associated with the Pacific patrol boat life-extension program and the expansion of multilateral maritime surveillance exercises and activities. A continued increase in ADF operational commitments resulted in a reduced capacity to support Australia's bilateral relationships in the region, including fewer Air Force maritime surveillance flights over the Pacific.

The defence relationship with Fiji has strengthened during this period. The ADF, in conjunction with the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, carried out infrastructure work at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks. The training program for Fiji was expanded with the addition of a postgraduate scholarship scheme. Defence continued to focus on enhancing the professional skills of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and encouraging the development of appropriate civil-military relations.

Relationships with Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Tuvalu, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Cook Islands focused on developing maritime surveillance capabilities. Defence has provided 12 Pacific-class patrol boats to these eight countries (the Federated States of Micronesia and Tonga have three each). In this reporting period, the Pacific patrol boat program continued to provide logistics, fuel, maintenance and training support to the maritime wings of these countries' national police forces and the Tonga Defence Service. ADF advisory teams posted to countries participating in the Pacific patrol boat program assisted them to develop sustainable national maritime surveillance capabilities and enable the projection of a credible maritime presence within the Exclusive Economic Zones of these countries.

Defence continued to promote greater multilateral cooperation in maritime surveillance through support to multilateral operations and the development of further multilateral maritime surveillance agreements between Pacific Island countries. Such measures optimise the deployment of scarce maritime surveillance assets. Defence continued to meet its commitments under the life-extension program for the South Pacific patrol boats.

Notes

1. Figures may not add due to rounding.
2. Funding relates mainly to support for the Pacific patrol boat program

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