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

I can. As Minister Fierravanti-Wells reminded us last week, the ADF has also been part of providing emergency relief to the people of Papua New Guinea following the 7.5 magnitude earthquake there on 26 February. We have had over 100 ADF members deployed as part of Operation PNG Assist. We have contributed one C-130J Hercules, three CH-47F Chinooks, a B300 King Air light aircraft and one C-17 heavy transport aircraft, which has been part of delivering supplies to the remote and very badly affected Southern Highlands region.

In total, the ADF has delivered over 310 tonnes of emergency relief supplies and we've provided $5 million in humanitarian aid. While that immediate emergency has passed, there might be a need for follow-on relief support for affected communities in PNG from time to time. We will continue to deliver stores with the ADF efforts over the next couple of months, as required, in coordination with the government and the Australian High Commission. (Time expired)