DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 052/10
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Joint approach to stabilise and rebuild Afghanistan
Australia’s military, police and civilian agencies are taking a joint approach to
stabilise and rebuild Afghanistan.
Working together, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), AusAID,
the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF), are
improving security, governance and development in Oruzgan Province.
The ADF and Australian Government representatives are delivering projects that are
improving the lives of the Afghan people.
Some of the projects, which will have a significant impact on the population in Tarin
Kowt, include a new waste management facility, a boy’s primary school and high
school, a girl’s school and numerous water crossings in the Province.
Commanding Officer of the recently returned Second Mentoring and Reconstruction
Task Force (MRTF-2), Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Hocking, says development is
critical to continue to win the enduring support of the population and defeat the
insurgency.
“We have been focused on mentoring the Afghan National Army (ANA) for the past
few years and slowly but surely, the ANA is starting to stand on their own,”
Lieutenant Colonel Hocking said.
“By improving the security situation, we are creating better conditions for
governance, reconstruction and development efforts into areas such as the Mirabad
Valley Region.”
Peter Macfarlane, DFAT’s Senior Civilian Representative in Oruzgan Province, says
the Whole of Government approach is critical to capitalise on the work already done
to stabilise the province.
“We’ve all got different interests and angles to pursue, but we are able to do it in a
very concerted way and a co-operative and collaborative way,” Mr Macfarlane said.
Kate Elliott, a Development Advisor with AusAID, says ADF assistance is essential:
“While there are an increasing number of non-government agencies operating in
Oruzgan, it’s still very hard to go out and monitor projects effectively.”
“We rely on the Australian Defence Force to provide protection and also the
experience of the engineers to undertake site inspections to make sure that Australia’s
aid is being spent effectively,” Ms Elliott said.
DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
Further supporting the security effort, the AFP is engaged in police development
activities with Afghan National Police recruits, in accordance with an approved
national police training program.
To date more than 600 police have graduated from the Provincial Training Centre in
Tarin Kowt, with further recruit courses scheduled for 2010.
Frank Jamieson, AFP Contingent Commander, says the wider effort by the Australian
Government to support the stabilisation efforts in Afghanistan will ultimately have a
global impact.
“It is important to remember that our objective in Afghanistan is to support the
development of rule of law and to enhance the capabilities of the Afghan National
Police,” Commander Jamieson said.
“Through these efforts, Australia is also demonstrating its capacity to play an active
role in enhancing international security – both with our allies and with the wider
international community.”
Project Engineer Captain Daniel Waugh said he’s very happy with what the MRTF-2
Works Team achieved during their tour.
“You meet children that go to schools, people who use the crossings that you’ve built
to get to the bazaar and you can’t help but realise that you have made a difference to
some lives,” Captain Waugh said.
Australian engineers also mentor local engineers: “My skills improve day by day
working with Australia,” Tila Muhammad Hassan Zai, an Afghan engineer, said.
Media note:
Still imagery is available at:
Media contact: AFP Public Affairs: (02) 6275 7100 or afpnationalmedia@afp.gov.au
AusAID Media Liaison: (02) 6206 4733 or media@ausaid.gov.au
Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
DFAT Media Liaison: (02) 6261 1555 or media.liaison@dfat.gov.au
NEWS 
