John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

I was also asked yesterday, in my capacity as the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, a question by Senator Trood in relation to an inter-agency assessment of the piracy threat to shipping in the Gulf of Aden. I seek leave to incorporate in Hansard the answer to that part of the question that I was asked by Senator Trood.

Leave granted.

The response read as follows—

Question asked of the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Faulkner, by Senator Trood on Tuesday 2 December 2008

Is it true that earlier this year the government convened an interagency assessment of the piracy threat to shipping in the Gulf of Aden and decided to leave counterpiracy activities and the protection of Australian interests to other countries?

An inter-departmental meeting was held on 30 April 2008 to consider a draft resolution of the UN Security Council Members’ efforts to address the problem of piracy and armed robbery in the waters off Somalia, including the Gulf of Aden. It was decided that Australia should engage positively and supportively in the discussions at the United Nations and support Security Council adoption of a draft resolution responding to a request from the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia for urgent assistance in securing the international and territorial waters off the coast of Somalia for the safe conduct of shipping and navigation. Australia ultimately co-sponsored the United Nations Security Resolution 1816, unanimously adopted on 2 June, which outlined a framework for action on piracy off the coast of Somalia.