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Rising to the challenge
APEC lead up in place

Volume 11, No. 60, February 22, 2007
   
Tactical Assault Group – East soldiers stage a building clearance demonstration as part of ADF preparations to assist with security arrangements for APEC 2007, one of the largest and most important series of meetings ever held in Australia.
Report
Photos by LACW Rodney Welch
THE ADF has begun preparations to support State agencies in the hosting of the 2007 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit throughout Australia.

Twenty-one countries are taking part in 100 days of meeting throughout the year, culminating in the APEC leaders’ forum in Sydney on September 8-9.

CDF ACM Angus Houston said the Government considered APEC to be the largest and most important series of meetings held in Australia.

“Defence is working closely with Federal, State and Territory departments and agencies, building on well-tested national security and counter-terrorism arrangements to ensure APEC is conducted safely,” ACM Houston said.

He said Defence’s support to civil authorities would be similar to that during the Rugby World Cup, Olympics and Commonwealth Games.

In December, 150 delegates attended a security conference at Holsworthy Barracks where NSW Police, Australian Federal Police, 4RAR (Cdo) and the Incident Response Regiment demonstrated their capabilities.

The display, which included Tactical Assault Group – East, demonstrated ways the ADF could support the civil authorities in the event of a terrorist incident.

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock described APEC as “Australia’s largest and most complex dignitary protection event in our history”.

He said the Government had provided $167.5 million over four years to ensure the security of APEC 2007.