Annual Report 2004-05

Outcome Five: Strategic Policy

Defence Cooperation

South East Asia

Indonesia

The bilateral defence relationship progressed well during the reporting period with the focus on cooperation in areas of shared strategic interest. Senior-level dialogue included the Minister for Defence meeting with his counterpart in Jakarta and counterpart visits by respective Defence Force Chiefs and Service Chiefs. The Indonesian Government and its Armed Forces were appreciative of the support provided by the ADF in the wake of the devastating South-East Asian tsunami and the March 2005 earthquake off Aceh. Cooperation between our respective Armed Forces during the relief operations demonstrated the growing strength of the bilateral defence relationship. Since the tsunami, the Chief of the Defence Force and all Service Chiefs have visited Indonesia. The Indonesian Head of Armed Forces visited Australia in June 2005 and the Indonesian Chief of Navy visited in April as part of President Yudhoyono's delegation.

Over the period, combined exercises resumed with the Indonesian Armed Forces with the conduct of the air maritime surveillance exercise Albatross Ausindo in April 2005 - the first combined exercise since 1999. Since November last year, six Indonesian navy ships have visited Australian ports and the Indonesian navy participated in the 2005 Navy Exercise Kakadu - a regional maritime exercise focused on interoperability. Defence provided information analysis training to Indonesian officers under the Memorandum of Understanding on Combating International Terrorism, and Special Operations Commander Australia visited Indonesia in May 2005 to meet with his counterparts and discuss counter-terrorism efforts. Further interaction over the period occurred through visits and conference attendance in the areas of defence management, cooperation, peacekeeping, maritime security, air safety and military law. Training provided to TNI remained focused on non-combat-related activities, including postgraduate study and English language training. Limited combat-related training continued in the area of regional Officers Basic Course. Ongoing junior and senior staff college exchanges enhanced educational interaction between our militaries.

Timor-Leste

The Defence Cooperation Program continued to contribute to the development of an affordable, sustainable and appropriately focused East Timor Defence Force throughout 2004-05. Progress has been made in advancing leadership and professional military skills, English language training, and policy and budget development within the Defence Secretariat. There has also been significant infrastructure development.

The English Language Program is successfully training East Timor Defence Force personnel at the recently built English Language Training Facility. During 2004-05, six Timorese Defence Force graduates of the English language training program in East Timor continued their English training in Australia.

Leadership and officer training continues to be an important area of development. Of the six English language graduates, three went on to successfully complete the Third Class of the General Service Officer Course at the Royal Military College and one continues senior officer training at the Australian Defence College. In addition, three Timorese completed the Specialist Service Officer Course at the Royal Military College.

Construction of the Australian advisers' residential compound project (Phase 1) was successfully completed on time and under budget. This facility provides a number of family residences, with support facilities, in a secure environment and allows Defence Cooperation Program advisers to undertake longer postings providing greater continuity for the Defence Cooperation Program.

A project to develop a radio communications network, which will link the East Timor Defence Force headquarters with other bases and units in the field, was progressed, and a security upgrade of the Defence Cooperation Program Headquarters was completed.

New initiatives are being developed which should greatly facilitate the Defence Cooperation Program in meeting its long-term objectives, these including maritime engagement and civil-military operations training.

Vietnam

Australia's Defence Cooperation relationship with Vietnam gained momentum with visits to Vietnam by the Australian Minister for Defence and the Chief of Air Force. High-level visits, ships visits, training and projects and expansion of the anti-malaria project to include research into dengue fever, form the core of the relationship. An Air Force C-130 visited Vietnam in May 2005 to demonstrate aero-medical evacuation and facilitate discussion on lessons learnt from our experiences in response to the South-East Asian tsunami and the Bali bombings. English language training continues to be a bedrock of engagement, providing the foundation for further development of the relationship.

Cambodia and Laos

Australia's bilateral relationships with Cambodia and Laos are developing satisfactorily. Cambodia received its first visit by an Australian Minister for Defence in April 2005. During 2004-05, officers from Cambodia and Laos attended Australian Defence College, English language training, and Defence and emergency management training. Australia also provided assistance to Cambodia with the development of its new White Paper and began a two year project to renovate Cambodia's Strategy Training Centre.

Brunei

The modest, but very positive, defence relationship with Brunei continued to develop through the conduct of mutually beneficial activities, exercises and training. The Sultan of Brunei visited Australia in February 2005, which included a visit to 4RAR in Perth. Highlights of the past year included mutual cooperation in rotary flying standardisation, air safety and logistics. Australia discussed further assistance with the implementation of the new Brunei Defence White Paper, which was released in July 2004. Exercise Star Leopard, a bilateral special forces exercise, was successfully conducted in September 2004. Exercise Penguin, a maritime patrol and surveillance exercise, took place in August 2004.