Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Back for his question, noting his particular interest in the topic as Chair of the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee. As Senator Back has alluded to, Australia has had a near continuous maritime presence in the Middle East for over two decades now. Our frigate HMAS Darwin is currently located in the Middle East, having succeeded HMAS Melbourne, and Darwin is in fact the 62nd rotation of a Royal Australian Navy vessel to the Middle East since the first Gulf War in 1990.

Since 1 July 2014, our contributions to maritime operations have been under the CMF, or Combined Maritime Forces, in the Middle East region and in counter-piracy operations in the western Indian Ocean. These are waters that continue to be strategically very important to our economic and trade interests. By patrolling those known smuggling routes and conducting boarding operations, Australia and our coalition partners are able to degrade the efforts of terrorist organisations and insurgent forces that are particularly funded by smuggling. Piracy has to some degree declined but, without a continued security presence, there is always a very high risk that it could in fact return.

Australia is committed to the maritime security of the Middle East, as we have long-term vested interests there. The sea lanes through that area are absolutely vital to international trade, and the volume of traffic through that area will only continue to increase on an international basis. As a responsible nation and as part of those Combined Maritime Forces we will continue to do our part to promote stability and promote prosperity through our naval vessels and our personnel who operate in this particular region.