Coronavirus: Virtual conference as RAAF cancels

The RAAF has cancelled its 2020 Air Power Conference in Canberra due to the coronavirus.

Chief of Air Force Mel Hupfeld will now prerecord addresses to be uploaded to the internet.

The RAAF has cancelled its 2020 Air Power Conference in Canberra because of the coronavirus.

More than 1000 delegates who were booked to attend the conference on March 24 and 25 have been advised to cancel their travel and accommodation plans.

Speakers including Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, Chief of Defence Angus Campbell, and Chief of Air Force Mel Hupfeld will now prerecord addresses to be uploaded to the internet.

“To significantly reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 … we will be providing remote access for delegates to the distinguished line-up of speakers,” organisers said.

The biennial conference brings together Australian Defence Force and foreign military officers, and delegates from government, the defence industry, academia and think tanks.

The move follows confirmation of three positive coronavirus cases among ADF personnel.

A Defence spokesman said the ADF was prioritising the health and safety of its personnel. “If required­, Defence would modify, postpone or cancel existing Defence­ international engagement activities to minimise the risk to Defence personnel,” he said.

The spokesman said personnel were receiving information about COVID-19, “as well as hygiene measures and social responsibil­ities aimed at minimising community transmission”.

Personnel were required to comply with Department of Health guidelines. Those overseas also had to adhere to screening and quarantine measures implemented by host countries, he said.