Phillip Thompson (Herbert, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I thank the House for the opportunity to make a brief statement on this report. Timor-Leste is a key strategic defence partner and we currently have a comprehensive defence cooperation program with the country's defence force. Under the coalition government, we initiated the gifting of two Austal-built Guardian-class patrol boats, due to be delivered next year, and support their ongoing operations and maintenance. It's important that the nation has the ability to patrol and secure its own maritime borders, and that has flow-on effects for our own national security.

I have also been involved in peacekeeping operations in East Timor back in 2007, so I know firsthand the importance of an Australian-East Timor relationship. As the Department of Defence told the committee, we have warm people-to-people links, and we are committed to building the Timor-Leste Defence Force's capability and capacity. By our reckoning, over 1,000 members of the Timor-Leste Defence Force have received training from Australia. That's why we support this agreement and recommend that binding treaty action be taken. It's a legally binding framework to government defence cooperation activities between our two nations—that is, all about maritime operations, exchanges and exercises; international humanitarian assistance and disaster relief; education and training; and logistical support.

The agreement, on the whole, is very similar to Australia's other Status of Forces Agreements, of which there are already eight. It will be mutual beneficial and support both nations' forces, helping us to build our resilience to potential threats in the Indo-Pacific. The report also notes the committee's support for the agreement between Australia and Serbia on social security. This will provide greater access to benefits for people who migrate between the two countries and is similar to agreements with 31 other nations. It will also improve the bilateral relationship between Australia and Serbia.

I'd like to thank the chair, the committee, all those who appeared before us and the secretariat, who do a fantastic support in supporting this committee. I commend this report to the House.

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