Reserves to protect coastline

Army Reserves will have a greater role in the defence of Australia by providing security elements for Australian Naval vessels, the Minister for Defence Robert Hill announced recently.

Defence Minister Hill said Reserves will deploy onto Australian Navy ships later this year as Transit Security Elements (TSE) as part of Operation Relex II. "They will be tasked with providing general security augmenting Navy boarding parties and providing security and support onboard intercepted vessels when required, Hill said. "This decision reinforces the growing importance of Reserves as an integral component of Australia's Defence Force, particularly the domestic security capability," he said. "It will allow the ADF to make better use of the Reserve capability and more effectively manage resources during a busy period of operations."

The Reserves have already demonstrated their ability to provide domestic security support at events such as the Sydney 2000 Olympics and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Operation Relex II is the Australian Defence Force operation which contributes to the whole of government program to detect, intercept and deter vessels carrying unauthorised arrivals from entering Australia through the North-West maritime approaches. Operation Relex II includes Navy, Air Force and Army units supported by Coastwatch and Customs.