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
NEWS 
