Defence Ministers Visit Norforce
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Government - Defence Press Release8th September 2008, 06:35pm - Views: 852
 THE HON. JOEL FITZGIBBON MP Minister for Defence THE HON. WARREN SNOWDON MP Minister for Defence Science Personnel Monday, 8 September 2008 116/2008 DEFENCE MINISTERS VISIT NORFORCE The Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, and Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, today visited NORFORCE during a visit to Larrakeyah Barracks. Commanding Officer of NORFORCE, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Rozzoli warmly welcomed Mr Fitzgibbon on his first visit to the NORFORCE unit, which operates throughout Mr Snowdon’s Northern Territory electorate of Lingiari. Lieutenant Colonel Rozzoli briefed Mr Fitzgibbon and Mr Snowdon on the latest NORFORCE operations and activities. “The soldiers of NORFORCE play an important role in protecting Australia’s northern coastline and today’s visit is a good opportunity for myself and Mr Snowdon to be given a first hand brief,” Mr Fitzgibbon said. One of three Regional Force Surveillance Units, NORFORCE operates across 1.8 million square kilometres in the Northern Territory and Western Australia’s Kimberley region. The NORFORCE unit relies on close relations with the isolated communities as locals are often the first to notice abnormal movements of personnel, vehicles or aircraft and this information is passed on to the patrols that regularly visit stations and outlying communities. About half of its soldiers are Indigenous and come from communities throughout NORFORCE’s area of operation. With a total of over 600 personnel, NORFORCE is the largest employer of Indigenous people in the Northern Territory. The NORFORCE visit was one of a number of engagements the Ministers have had during their visit to Darwin including today’s farewell parade at Robertson Barracks for troops deploying to Afghanistan, Iraq and East Timor. Media contacts: Christian Taubenschlag (Joel Fitzgibbon): 02 6277 7800 or 0438 595 567 Kate Sieper (Warren Snowdon): 02 6277 7620 or 0488 484 689 Defence Media Liaison: 02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664 |
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