SENATOR JOHN FAULKNER
Minister for Defence
Thursday, 10 December 2009
054/2009
AUSTRALIAN FORCES DRAWDOWN IN EAST TIMOR
The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, today announced that the
Australian commitment to the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in East
Timor will draw down from approximately 650 to around 400 personnel by
February 2010.
The overall size of the joint Australian-New Zealand force will decrease from
800 to 550 personnel.
“The reduction of the number of ADF personnel was agreed following
extensive discussions with East Timor’s leadership, the United Nations and
our ISF partner New Zealand,” Senator Faulkner said.
The security situation in East Timor has remained stable since the February
2008 attacks on East Timor’s President and Prime Minister. In January 2009,
100 ADF members deployed to Operation ASTUTE were withdrawn from East
Timor with no significant effect on the security situation.
“The decision to reduce the number of ADF personnel recognises the ongoing
calm security situation in East Timor and the efforts of the Government and
people of East Timor to uphold this. It will see the ISF increase its focus on
capacity-building of East Timor’s military forces (F-FDTL),” Senator Faulkner
said.
The coalition will continue to transition to capacity-building activities with the
F-FDTL, building on successful ISF and F-FDTL projects such as the water
project at Uatolari and the health clinic in Ossa Huna.
These efforts support Australia’s longer term commitment to the F-FDTL’s
development through the Defence Cooperation Program in East Timor. They
are part of Australia’s commitment to supporting East Timor's development as
a stable and prosperous nation.
The planned drawdown will commence with approximately 100 ADF members
returning to Australia in mid December 2009. The subsequent drawdown to an
ADF commitment of approximately 400 ADF members will occur gradually
during the January to March 2010 period.
“The Australian servicemen and women completing their deployments can
now look forward to a period of leave, reconstitution and training back in
Australia following their time in East Timor,” Senator Faulkner said.
“I thank all the returning ADF personnel for their professionalism and service
in this important operation.”
The current New Zealand contribution will remain unchanged at 150
personnel.
The ISF is in East Timor at the request of the Government of East Timor and
the United Nations.
Operation ASTUTE is the ADF contribution to the ISF and New Zealand’s
contribution is Operation KORU. Further information concerning Operation
ASTUTE and KORU can be found at:
Media contacts:
Colin Campbell (John Faulkner):
02 6277 7800 or 0407 787 181
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
