HMAS WALLER’S CAPABILITY UPGRADES SET FOR OPERATIONAL TRIALS

The Royal Australian Navy is set to benefit from HMAS Waller being the first Collins Class submarine to be fitted with the new Replacement Combat System and Heavyweight Torpedo, the Minister for Defence, the Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP, said today.

The Minister recently visited HMAS Waller in Hawaii, where its Operational Test and Evaluation activities have included participation in the Rim of the Pacific 2008 (RIMPAC 08) Exercise. This exercise is currently being conducted off Hawaii and includes the participation of the United States and eight other Pacific Rim forces.

1. Minister, you visited HMAS Waller, which is in the United States for Exercise RIMPAC, can you explain the importance of these exercises.

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MINISTER FOR DEFENCE MEETS WITH COMMANDER OF THE US PACIFIC COMMAND AND ATTENDS ROUNDTABLE

On 7 July 2008, the Minister for Defence, the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, met with the Commander of the US Pacific Command, Admiral Timothy J. Keating, in Hawaii. The Minister and Admiral Keating met previously during the Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) in Canberra in February 2008.

During the meeting, the Minister and Admiral Keating discussed the close relationship between the Australian Department of Defence with the US Pacific Command through a number of ongoing exercises and dialogues.

1. You have had high-level discussions with Admiral Keating, can you tell us what was discussed?

2. Is the US satisfied with the new Administration in Australia?

3. You’ve also had some discussions with the think tank at the East-West Centre can you explain what they were interested in?`

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