Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Payne. Will the minister inform the Senate of Australia's contribution to maritime security in the Middle East and how it is helping promote prosperity and stability in that region?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to 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.

Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Could the minister inform the Senate how the deployment of Royal Australian Navy ships is supporting international maritime efforts in the Middle East now and will into the future?

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

It is very important to emphasise that this is, indeed, an international effort. The Combined Maritime Forces that I referred to in my first answer is a 31-nation naval partnership that ensures security, stability and prosperity across more than 3.2 million square miles of international waters.

HMAS Darwin herself is currently assigned to Combined Task Force 150 and is focused on disrupting the trade, in particular, of narcotics. Leadership of the CTF—Combined Task Force 150—rotates between Combined Maritime Forces international members, and Australia is currently in command of CTF-150.

Australia also continues, as I indicated in relation to our other activities, to participate in multilateral counterpiracy mechanisms off the coast of Somalia as well as in the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction group, which is coordinating military responses to the threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden. (Time expired)

Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Could the minister inform the Senate of what Australia's contributions have achieved over the last 12 months in this region?

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

Over the past 12 months what Australian naval vessels have achieved in this region is particularly impressive. They have seized around 2.4 tonnes of illegal narcotics with a street value of around $800 million.

During her rotation, HMAS Melbourne patrolled more than 37,000 nautical miles. She conducted more than 50 boarding operations and seized almost a tonne of heroin. Her largest seizure alone was 427 kilograms. In fact, over the past 12 months there have also been no successful pirate attacks reported in the region.

HMAS Melbourne is on her way home for a well-earned rest, and I want to thank her commander and crew for their tireless efforts. They are very close now; they are, in fact, expected in Sydney on Sunday morning. I know that there will be many very happy family reunions, but also a very sincere acknowledgement from the people of Australia for their achievements on their operation.