Minister for Defence Robert Hill talks with an Australian Army captain and warrant officer at a Middle East base. Photo by Cpl Darren Hilder, 1JPAU(P)

Troops home by June

The majority of ADF personnel deployed to the Middle East as part of the Coalition to disarm Iraq will return home soon, Defence Minister Robert Hill announced on April 17. Force elements returning from the Middle East during May will be: About 600 personnel embarked on HMAS Anzac and Darwin. About 250 airmen and women and support crews deployed with a squadron of 14 Hornets fighter aircraft. The majority of the Special Forces Task Group. A Navy clearance diver team capable of locating, rendering safe and disposing of mines. Due home in June are about 350 sailors and soldiers embarked on the sea transport ship HMAS Kanimbla with a Sea King helicopter, the LCM8s and the detachment from 16 AD Regt and a specialist explosives ordnance team. Senator Hill said there was still a role for Australia to contribute to the ongoing coalition efforts to bring stability and humanitarian aid to Iraq.

2RAR and 2 Cav off to Iraq

A special security detachment of soldiers from 2RAR and light armoured vehicles from 2 Cav Regt will be deployed to Baghdad.

This is part of the Government’s adjustment of Australia’s military commitment in Iraq as coalition operations move from offensive combat operations to stabilisation and recovery operations, announced by Defence Minister Robert Hill on May 1.

Senator Hill said the name for the Australian Defence contribution to the rehabilitation of Iraq was Op Catalyst.

The Government announced on April 17 that many of the ADF personnel deployed to the Middle East as part of the coalition to disarm Iraq would return home soon.

The Government decided last month to withdraw further ADF elements.

The bulk of the Army Commando task group, supported by Chinooks, will start to return home in the middle of this month. The whole group will have returned to Australia by about the end of the month.

Op Catalyst includes:

• A RAAF combat support element of about 60 air traffic control personnel working at Baghdad International Airport. The air traffic controllers will start operations on Saturday.
• Experienced analysts and technical experts to support the coalition effort to locate, identify, account for and subsequently destroy Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and programs. The Government has decided to send a further four specialists in addition to the 12 Defence personnel already announced. The specialists are military and civilian officers from the Defence Intelligence Organisation, DSTO and the ADF with skills relating to chemical and biological weapons, missiles and related technologies, and Iraq’s weapons programs.
• A security detachment of about 75 personnel to protect the Australian Representative Mission that will be established. The detachment will also provide protection and escort for Australian Government personnel working in Baghdad. The detachment will comprise a troop of three Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAV) and 15 personnel from 2 Cav Regt, an infantry platoon of 35 from 2RAR, communications and logistics elements from 3 Bde in Townsville and personnel from the 1 MP Bn from Brisbane. Elements of the security detachment have started deploying to the Middle East and will be in place by mid-May. The security detachment will relieve an interim security force from the Commando task group already deployed in Baghdad.
• A temporary military liaison officer to the Australian Mission in Baghdad.
• Three ADF representatives to the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance.
• Two Hercules transport aircraft.

The frigate HMAS Sydney, with a Naval task group command element, a logistics support element and two P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft supported by air operations personnel, will support Op Catalyst but will also continue to be engaged in responsibilities related to the war against terrorism. HMAS Kanimbla will return to Australia in June after it completes its current tour of duty.

Senator Hill said Australia’s military contribution to the rehabilitation of Iraq would complement its civilian contribution in areas such as agriculture.

“Having played a significant role in combat operations in Iraq, the Government recognises that Australia has a responsibility to contribute to stabilising the country and helping it get back on its feet,” he said.

“We have indicated that owing to the ADF’s high operational tempo we will not be providing a large-scale peacekeeping force. However, we have decided to provide specialist assistance in areas where we can make a difference.”

The decision to deploy these niche capabilities comes after Senator Hill visited Iraq and met with senior representatives of the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance and US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

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