Australian Defence Force joins PNG in jungle warfare practice as new flying squad emerges
A new Australian military unit is being set up to re-engage with the Pacific, as Defence Forces trained with PNG troops in the jungle. SEE THE PHOTOS
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Exclusive: A new “agile and nimble” Australian military unit will re-engage with Pacific forces as the Federal Government seeks ways to become “better and more responsive partners” with the region, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said yesterday.
The flying squad of troops will be available not just for mobile training teams but regional peacekeeping, engineering, and disaster management.
Visiting the northern East Sepik region in PNG, Senator Reynolds said sovereign nations needed to develop their own military capabilities but the Australian Defence Force could help.
She said the ADF “Pacific Support Team” force was still in concept stage but would be drawn from existing regiments — hence the term “team” — pulled together specifically to meet the bespoke military capability requirements of Pacific nations, notably in training, security and weapons interoperability.
She said the close ties the ADF had with PNG counterparts was an example of what could be forged elsewhere in the region as she pledged Australia could be a better partner.
Defence analysts in Australia and the US have long flagged China had been allowed by Australia to run unchecked in the region, offering cash loans to governments with fledgling budgets and had in recent times offered to refresh their ports and military bases notably in Fiji, Vanuatu and Cambodia.
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“It’s about trust and mutual engagement,” the Senator told News Corp Australia yesterday.
“It’s still an emerging concept and there are a number of aspects to this but it's really about how we take the lessons of 40 years with the Defence co-operation Program with PNG and how do we be a bit more agile and nimble in terms of the way we take lessons from this relationship enhanced over the years and adapt those lessons and approaches into other relationships.”
She added: “It is really still a concept but it is us thinking we ‘can do things better’ we can become a better partner’ but to do that we have to listen and we have to provide what is important to sovereign capabilities.”
It is understood the 6th Brigade in Brisbane would take a leading role in the expeditionary force as would the 1st Brigade in Darwin and the 3rd Brigade based in Townsville.
Senator Reynolds said the relationship with PNG, including a longstanding military exercise in jungle warfare, logistics and battle orders under a Defence co-operation Program was “emblematic” of what was possible elsewhere.
“It’s about working country by country, relationship by relationship and listening and understanding what is really important. It’s not basing our assumptions on what’s important and you can sit in Canberra and assume it might be all very good but coming here today you can see what’s important and what they value.”
She said it was not her place to discuss China’s programs in the region.
Yesterday, PNG and ADF forces went through their paces in the jungles about Weewak.
Senator Reynolds joins four other senior minister including Foreign Minister Marise Payne in Port Moresby for a ministerial forum this week. PNG is seeking regional help to refinance $12 billion in national debt and has asked Australia for a “significant” loan.