Mr Smith’s Office: Mary Bagnall (02) 6277 7800 or 0434 665 067
Department: (02) 6127 1999
MEDIA RELEASE
Stephen Smith MP
Minister for Defence
M E D I A R E L E A S E
MR27/10
7 November 2010
US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates welcomed to Australia
Today in Melbourne I welcomed United States Secretary of Defense, Dr Robert Gates, to Australia to
participate in the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations, AUSMIN.
Together with Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary Gates
and I will participate in AUSMIN tomorrow, Monday 8 November, at Government House in
Melbourne.
The visit by Secretary Clinton and Secretary Gates will mark the 25th anniversary of the first AUSMIN
talks in Canberra in 1985, and 70 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and the United States.
AUSMIN is the premier forum for strengthening Australia-US Alliance cooperation in the Asia-Pacific
region and globally on foreign policy, defence and strategic matters.
It is scheduled annually, with the venue alternating between Australia and the United States. The last
AUSMIN was held in Washington, DC on 9 April 2009.
This evening, Dr Gates and I will lay a wreath at the Shrine of Remembrance.
Media Note: Imagery of Mr Smith with Dr Gates is available at:
NEWS 
