Preliminary Pages
Foreword
On 5 August 2009 fourteen members
of the Defence Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs
Defence and Trade visited Timor Leste. The focus of the visit was the
contribution being made by the Australian Defence Force to the current and
future security of the country.
In view of the Committee’s focus on
nation building and self-sufficiency within the defence and security context,
the Committee elected to visit Joint Task Force 631, the Defence Co-operation
Program and the Timor Leste Defence Force Training Centre at Metinaro.
This visit enabled the Committee
to gain an appreciation of how far Timor Leste has progressed since our
previous visit in 2003. It is clear that with the support of several nations
and a significant number of NGOs the country is making steady progress
supported by a more stable security environment, following the tragic
recurrence of violence in 2006.
It was clear to the Committee
that the Defence Co-operation Program holds the key to a professionally trained
organic Defence capability. The long term goal of enabling the country one day
to contribute capability to support others overseas is a laudable aim.
On behalf of the Committee, I
would like to thank the Ambassador, Mr Peter Heyward, and his staff at the
Australian Embassy Dili, the ADF staff at the Defence Cooperation Program and
Brigadier Bill Sowry and the members of Joint Task Force 631. Their support and
assistance ensured that this was a productive and informative visit.
The Committee is indebted to the
Prime Minister for approving the visit and to the Minister for Defence for the
allocation of an aircraft from No 34 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force
without which the visit could not have been achieved.
Hon Arch Bevis
MP
Chair of Defence Sub-Committee
Membership of the Committee
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Chair
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Senator M Forshaw
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Deputy
Chair
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The Hon D Hawker MP
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Members
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Senator M Arbib (from
01/07/08 till 11/09/09)
Senator A Bartlett (till 30/06/08)
Senator M Bishop
Senator M Cormann (till
23/09/08)
Senator A Eggleston (till
19/03/08)
Senator the Hon A
Ferguson
(from 01/07/08)
Senator M Fifield
Senator M Furner (from
16/03/09)
Senator S
Hanson-Young (from
04/12/08)
Senator the Hon D Johnston
(from 23/09/08)
Senator L J Kirk (till 30/06/08)
Senator S Ludlum (from 26/11/08)
Senator the Hon J A L (Sandy) Macdonald (till
30/06/08)
Senator C M Moore
Senator K O’Brien (from
01/07/08)
Senator M Payne (from 19/03/08)
Senator N Stott Despoja (till
30/06/08)
Senator R Trood
Senator R S Webber (till 30/06/08)
The Hon B Baldwin MP
The Hon A Bevis
MP
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The Hon J Bishop
MP (from
11/03/09)
Mr M Danby MP
The Hon J
Fitzgibbon MP (from
15/06/09)
Ms A Ellis MP
Mr S W Gibbons MP
Ms S Grierson MP
Mr D Hale MP
The Hon I
Macfarlane MP
Mrs L Markus MP (from 25/09/08)
Ms S Mirabella MP (till
11/03/09)
The Hon J Murphy
MP (from
20/03/09)
Mr R Oakeshott MP(from
20/03/09)
Ms M Parke MP
Ms K Rea MP
Mr B Ripoll MP
The Hon A Robb AO MP (till 25/09/08)
Mr S Robert MP
The Hon P Ruddock MP
Ms J Saffin MP
The Hon B Scott MP
Mr K Thomson MP (till
15/06/09)
Ms M Vamvakinou
MP
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Secretary
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Dr M Kerley
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Membership of the Defence Sub –Committee
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Chair
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The Hon A Bevis MP
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Deputy
Chair
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The Hon B Baldwin MP
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Members
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Senator
M Arbib (till
11/03/09)
Senator
M Bishop
Senator
the Hon A Ferguson
Senator M Fifield
Senator M Forshaw (ex officio)
Senator
M Furner (from
16/03/09)
Senator
the Hon D Johnston
Senator S Ludlum
Senator
K O’Brien
Senator
M Payne
Senator
R Trood
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Mr
M Danby MP
The
Hon J Fitzgibbon MP (from 15/06/09)
Mr
S W Gibbons MP
Ms S Grierson MP
Mr
D Hale MP
The
Hon D Hawker MP (ex officio)
The
Hon I Macfarlane MP
Mrs L Markus MP
Ms
S Mirabella MP(till 11/03/09)
Mr
R Oakeshott MP(from 20/03/09)
Mr
S Robert MP
Ms
J Saffin MP
The
Hon B Scott MP
Mr
K Thomson MP (till
15/06/09)
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Committee Secretariat
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Secretary
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Dr Margot Kerley
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Defence
Adviser
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WGCDR David Ashworth
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Officer
Manager
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Mrs Donna Quintus-Bosz
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Administrative
Officers
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Mrs Sonya Gasper
Ms Gillian Drew
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Visit Participants
| Chair |
The Hon A Bevis MP |
|
| Deputy
Chair |
The Hon B Baldwin MP |
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| Members |
Senator M Bishop
Senator the Hon A Ferguson
Senator M Furner (from 16/03/09)
Senator S Ludlum
Senator K O’Brien
The Hon B Scott MP |
Mr M Danby MP
Ms S Grierson MP
The Hon D Hawker MP (ex officio)
The Hon I Macfarlane MP
Mr S Robert MP
Ms J Saffin MP
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| Defence Adviser |
WGCDR David Ashworth |
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List of abbreviations
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DCP
|
Defence Co-operation Program
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DCP HQ
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Defence Co-operation Program
Headquarters
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F-FDTL
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Timor Leste Defence Force
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ISF
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International Stabilisation Force
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ISF HQ
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International Stabilisation Force
Headquarters
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