AFP DEPLOYMENT TO AFGHANISTAN

Parliament House, Canberra

April 28, 2010

[CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY]

First, may I acknowledge the Ngunnawal people, and pay my respects to their elders, both past and present.

I would also like to welcome:

I am honoured to have the opportunity today to personally thank each federal police officer for undertaking this service for our country.

The work these officers will be doing in Afghanistan is an important element of the international effort to build stability and establish the rule-of-law in a country that has been torn apart by conflict.

They will be working within a team of Australian professionals, including our Australian Defence Force personnel, as part of our whole-of-government contribution to that effort.

The Government cannot overstate the importance of the creation and maintenance of peace in Afghanistan. If we achieve our objective the people of this troubled country can rebuild their communities, protect their families and strive for a decent quality of life that is a basic human right.

It is in our national interest to prevent Afghanistan again becoming a launching pad for attacks against us and our friends.

As a nation Australia has a proud record of promoting and maintaining peace through the adherence to the rule of law.

Australia is committed to this goal and to a transition to Afghan responsibility as soon as conditions allow. We are working with the people and the government of Afghanistan to do what is necessary to improve security and the delivery of government services to its people.

The six AFP members being farewelled today are being deployed to Oruzgan Province. They will be assisting the Afghan National Police to build and develop core policing capabilities, as well as mentoring and advising training staff at the Tarin Kowt Provincial Training Centre.

The Australian Government is providing more than 32 million dollars to the AFP over two years to undertake its vital role in providing support to a range of Afghan peace-building initiatives. And the deployment of these officers will bring the number of AFP members in Afghanistan to 28.

As just one aspect of the work Australia is doing, it demonstrates the strength of our commitment to Afghanistan, and ensures we will continue to be actively involved in improvements to international coalition’s military and civilian strategy for success.

While we are here today to farewell six members of the AFP, I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of the defence and other personnel deployed to Afghanistan. It is not easy for their families and friends to be without them for extended periods of time.

But each and every person deployed by the Federal Government on behalf of this nation is making a valuable contribution to the security in Afghanistan and, as a result, to a more secure Australia.

I would like to note that in addition to those members deployed by the government, Australians are making vital contributions in other ways.

I would like to congratulate AFP Commander Paul Osborne on his appointment to the United Nations Assistance Mission in the role of Senior Police Advisor.

Unfortunately Paul can’t be here today, but the work he will be doing will have a significant impact on the ability of the Afghan National Police to implement good governance and policing practices now and into the future.

Australia has a wealth of experience and expertise in this field. The AFP alone has hundreds of members deployed to peacekeeping and capacity building missions around the world.

I would like to thank them for their efforts. And I would like to again thank the six AFP members here today.

Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Thank you.