David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

The Australian government will provide a further $20 million and deploy additional Australian Defence Force logistical support to help the Philippines to respond to this typhoon, bringing total Australian assistance to over $30 million. In such a short space of time, the Defence Force has been ready, willing and able to assist.

A further $20 million package includes $9 million to the United Nations, $4 million to the International Red Cross-Red Crescent, $2 million to the Australian Red Cross, $2 million to other Australian NGOs and $1 million to local NGOs in the Philippines. The deployment of Australian specialists includes a medical team, as I have said, AFP disaster management specialists and a DFAT humanitarian and consular expert team.

As senators would be aware, the ADF was unable to provide amphibious ship capability in the aftermath of Cyclone Yasi. I am pleased to advise that HMAS Tobruk has been diverted from her current tasking and is en route to the Philippines to provide further assistance, and is ideally suited to do the work.