John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

The government’s and, I know, the parliament’s highest priority is the safety and protection of Australian troops and civilian personnel serving overseas. Our personnel work in dangerous conditions in Afghanistan where the risk of Taliban attacks is part of the reality of everyday life. One of my first decisions on becoming defence minister on 22 July 2009 was to direct a comprehensive review of the protection provided to our troops in Afghanistan to ensure that they did have the full range of protections that were required. Appropriately, the review was conducted mostly in the theatre of operations.

In response to the force protection review, the government will invest $1.1 billion for enhanced force protection capabilities in Afghanistan over the period 2009-10 to 2012-13. Since the review was completed, Defence has been working hard to progress and implement the outcomes of the review. Some measures have been implemented already, including improving countermeasures against improvised explosive devices, IEDs, and improving IED detection equipment. Progress on the other recommendations is well underway, including enhanced medical support and the upgrading and hardening of living and working accommodation in Tarin Kowt, as well as a range of other vital capability enhancements. I can assure the Senate that this work will continue to be progressed as a matter of priority.