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Department Of Foreign Affairs And Trade News

22 Mar 2023

China Firm Wins Solomon Islands Port Project as Australia Watches On

The Solomon Islands has awarded a multi-million-dollar contract to a Chinese state company to upgrade an international port in Honiara in a project funded by the Asian Development Bank, an official of the island nation said on Wednesday.The United States and its allies, including Australia, New Zealand and Japan, have held concerns that China has ambitions to build a naval base in the region since the Solomon Islands struck a security pact with Beijing last year."This will be upgrading the old international port in Honiara and two domestic wharves in the provinces…

04 Mar 2019

Solomon Islands Oil Spill: More Help on the Way

Up to 75 tonnes of heavy fuel oil has dispersed across the island's sea and shoreline, contaminating the ecologically delicate area. Credit: DFAT

Australia is sending more help to the Pacific nation of the Solomon Islands to stop oil from a grounded cargo ship destroying a World Heritage-listed marine sanctuary, Australia's foreign minister said on Sunday.At least 75 tonnes of heavy fuel oil has spilled from Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier Solomon Trader since Cyclone Oma drove it onto a reef at Rennell Island on Feb. 5.The ship was carrying 700 tonnes of oil when it ran aground and there are fears the remaining fuel will spoil Rennell Island…

08 Feb 2017

Repairing Fiji’s Maritime Navigation Equipment Post-Winston

A satellite images shows Tropical Cyclone Winston during peak intensity and striking Fiji on February 20, 2016. (Photo: NASA)

When Tropical Cyclone Winston struck Fiji in February 2016, the deadly category 5 storm raked across the country with peak winds of 185 mph, damaging or destroying some 40,000 homes and causing an estimated $1.4 billion in damages. The strongest recorded tropical cyclone to make landfall in the South Pacific archipelago, Winston significantly damaged much of Fiji’s infrastructure, including to a number of maritime aids to navigation and lighthouse sites. The Australian Maritime…

07 Feb 2017

Australia, Fiji fix Cyclone damaged navigation equipment

In February 2016, Fiji suffered the devastating effects of Tropical Cyclone Winston. The cyclone caused significant damage to the infrastructure of Fiji, including to a number of maritime aids to navigation and lighthouse sites. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has worked closely with the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) to install new navigation buoys and assess the damage to lighthouses in Fiji’s network. Two new low-maintenance polyethylene buoys with self-contained LED lights were installed a fortnight ago, in the waters of Levuka Passage. A third buoy will be installed, following a detailed bathymetric survey by the Fiji Hydrographic Service to identify a suitable location.

06 Oct 2015

ADF’s New Amphibious Capability Demonstrated

Australia’s newest military capability, the Amphibious Ready Element, has demonstrated its capacity in waters off the North Queensland coast during the Sea Series of exercises. Conducted by the Brisbane-based Deployable Joint Force Headquarters, under command of Major General Stuart Smith, the Sea Series of exercises enabled the amphibious force to achieve an interim operational capability. The Sea Series of exercises involved about 1100 embarked forces and crew on board HMAS Canberra with medium lift helicopters, landing craft and small boats, trucks, troop carriers and other vehicles. The embarked force included major elements from the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, and 5th Aviation Regiment supported by HMAS Stuart, Air Force assets as well as other government agencies.

24 Sep 2015

ADF Tests Amphibious Capability

The Australian Defence Force is testing its newest amphibious capability ahead of the upcoming cyclone season. Exercise SEA RAIDER in Far North Queensland involves some 1400 troops embarked in HMAS Canberra with medium lift helicopters, landing craft and small boats, trucks, troop carriers and other vehicles. Conducted by the Brisbane based Deployable Joint Force Headquarters, under command of Major General Stuart Smith, Exercise SEA RAIDER is supported by HMAS Stuart, Air Force assets and Commando forces as well as other Government agencies. The ADF works closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as the lead agency for Australian Government responses to overseas emergencies.

14 Jun 2015

India, Australia Pitch Maritime Drill

With increased awareness that strategic and security interests are converging given the geopolitical situation, India and Australia have agreed to hold their first ever bilateral naval exercise in this year and are planning to make the joint war game a regular feature in coming years. India, Japan and Australia have decided to deepen their ties in all sectors, especially in the field of maritime security, defence sources said. Sources say that plans for a trilateral exercise including Japan is also on the list. If all three nations – India, Japan and Australia agree to it, it will strengthen the ties in all sectors, especially in the field of maritime security and defence cooperation.

04 Jun 2015

Australia, US Alliance on Display for Talisman Sabre

More than 33,000 U.S. and Australian personnel will participate in the biennial military training exercise Talisman Sabre 2015 in Australia July 4-19. Talisman Sabre, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command and Australian Defence Force Headquarters Joint Operations Command, will incorporate U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force and the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, and Royal Australian Air Force as well as other government agencies from each country. Featuring 21 ships, including the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) and more than 200 aircraft and three submarines, this sixth iteration of the exercise will focus on joint training of a combined task force of U.S.

29 Jan 2015

Australia Bolsters SAR in Indian Ocean Region

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said it has commenced its Search and Rescue (SAR) Capability Partnership Program this week with counterpart agencies in Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Mauritius. This program is being delivered as part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Government Partnerships for Development program, which provides funds to eligible Australian public sector organizations to support economic growth and poverty alleviation in developing countries in the Indian Ocean, Asia and Pacific Regions. AMSA will receive a total of $2.6 million in funding over three years to work in cooperation with the three partner countries and strengthen their national SAR services.

22 Oct 2014

Australia Join Operation RENDER SAFE

Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have arrived in Bougainville to address a potentially deadly legacy posed by unexploded ordnance from past conflicts as part of Operation RENDER SAFE 2014. HMAS Choules is in the vicinity of Torokina carrying approximately 500 personnel and is equipped with an MRH90 Helicopter and an LCM-8 Landing craft. The Operation RENDER SAFE 2014 Commander, Captain (CAPT) Jay Bannister, says his team is looking forward to the task. “The operation has been months in the planning, involving both Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,” CAPT Bannister said. “The people of Bougainville have been most welcoming and we have been working very closely with them to identify explosive remnants of war which pose a threat to local communities.

07 Apr 2014

ADF Aids Solomon Islands Following Floods

A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-130J Hercules has departed RAAF Base Amberley to transport a Department of Foreign Affairs advisor and Defence personnel to the Solomon Islands following severe floods. A team of 11 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel has departed with a specialist advisor from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). This team will conduct an initial assessment to scope what assistance will be required. The deployment follows a request for assistance from the Government of the Solomon Islands to Australia on April 5.