Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

Committee activities (inquiries and reports)

Inquiry into Australia's Defence Relations with the United States

Terms of Reference

The Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade shall examine and report on Australia's Defence Relations with the Unted States. Since World War Two, Australia and the United States (US) have developed strong defence relations. In particular, the last decade has seen a new level of defence relations encompassing Australian involvement in the first Gulf War, the invoking of the ANZUS Treaty, and Australian involvement in US led coalitions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Defence Update 2003 commented that Australias alliance with the US remains a national asset and the United States current political, economic, and military dominance adds further weight to the alliance relationship.

How should the Australian-US alliance be developed to best meet each nations' security needs both in the Asia Pacific region and globally focusing on but not limited to:

• the applicability of the ANZUS treaty to Australias defence and security;
• the value of US-Australian intelligence sharing;
• the role and engagement of the US in the Asia Pacific region;
• the adaptability and interoperability of Australias force structure and capability for coalition operations;
• the implications of Australias dialogue with the US on missile defence;
• the development of space based systems and the impact this will have for Australias self-reliance;
• the value of joint Defence exercises between Australia and the US, such as Exercise RIMPAC;
• the level of Australian industry involvement in the US Defence industry; and
• the adequacy of research and development arrangements between the US and Australia.

Referred by the Minister for Defence 2003.