Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Fawcett for his question. Australia is of course firmly committed to deepening our longstanding and robust defence relationship with the United States, and this commitment is no better exemplified than in the Force Posture Initiatives. Last week I met with the United States Secretary of Defence, Ash Carter, in Washington and I am pleased to advise the Senate that at that meeting we welcomed the in-principle conclusion of cost-sharing negotiations. This is an important milestone for implementation of the initiatives.

The Force Posture Initiatives contain two very important aspects: the annual six-month rotational deployments of the US Marine Corps, and enhanced air cooperation, both of which occur in Northern Australia. To support the full implementation of the initiatives, a substantial infrastructure development program will be required, including upgrades to airfields, to aircraft parking aprons, to living and working accommodation, and to messes, gyms and training ranges. These are upgrades which will benefit both Australian and US forces. Australia and the United States will share the costs for more than $2 billion in infrastructure investment in Northern Australia, as referenced in the defence white paper, as well as the ongoing costs of the initiative over the full 25-year life of this very important agreement.

The marine rotations have grown from 200 marines in 2012 to 1,250 this year just gone. This year's rotation, which is the largest to date, participated in a number of exercises with the Australian Defence Force and regional partners, including 600 marines participating in Exercise Hamel in South Australia, the Army's main national exercise. The marines have also participated in Exercise Southern Jackaroo with Australia and Japan, and recently in Exercise Kowari with Australia and China. I am very much looking forward to seeing the rotation grow in coming years to around 2,500 marines, and to the further strengthening of ties between us and the United States. (Time expired)