THE HON JOEL FITZGIBBON MP
Minister for Defence
Tuesday, 9 September 2008
118/2008
DEFENCE MINISTER VISITS HEADQUARTERS
NORTHERN COMMAND AND THE NAVY IN THE TOP END
The Minister for Defence, the Honourable Joel Fitzgibbon, MP, visited
Headquarters Northern Command (HQNORCOM) and the Navy in Darwin
today, touring the naval base HMAS Coonawarra and stepping onboard the
Armidale Class Patrol Boat (ACPB) HMAS Armidale.
The Minister was met by Commander Northern Command, Air Commodore
Ian Meyn and briefed on current operations being conducted by
HQNORCOM.
“Today I had the pleasure of meeting with the our servicemen and women
responsible for the day to day coordination of assets that patrol an area
approximately 10% of the earth’s surface involved in Operation Resolute,” Mr
Fitzgibbon said.
The Minister also took the opportunity to tour Coonawarra, the Royal
Australian Navy’s operational base in Darwin and home port to 10 Armidale
Class Patrol Boats and two Balikpapan Class Heavy Landing Craft.
The Commanding Officer of Coonawarra, Commander Ainsley Morthorpe,
RAN, showed Mr Fitzgibbon the maintenance facilities available to RAN ships
including the hard stand for minor war vessels.
Mr Fitzgibbon also visited Armidale for morning tea with the ship’s company.
He spoke to officers and sailors on board to gain an understanding of their
working routines and life in a patrol boat – the real “Sea Patrol”.
Captain Vaughn Rixon, RAN, Commander Australian Navy Patrol Boat Group,
showed Mr Fitzgibbon through the Rennie-Catton Building which houses
Navy’s Port Services Office and the Darwin Patrol Boat Crew Facility.
The Minister expressed his gratitude for the hard work and commitment to
vital operations including Operation Resolute, the whole-of-government effort
to protect Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Media contacts:
Christian Taubenschlag (Joel Fitzgibbon):
02 6277 7800 or 0438 595 567
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664
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