Senator Hill, we know these aircraft and HMAS Kanimbla are heading back to the coast of Sumatra, how important is their mission going to be?

Well it is obviously important. The Indonesians indicated to us that this was the capability they needed and thus the Prime Minister was able to make the offer to the Indonesian President. Two hercs will be filled with medical support teams. One is leaving about now, about 8am, and the second should be about midday today and they will fly to Jakarta and hopefully then be able to fly direct into the island but that depends on the state of the strip, so basically they will be guided by the Indonesian authorities.

Is it similar to their initial task in the wake of the boxing day Tsunami to getting medical supplies, medical teams and that sort of thing?

That’s right, what the Indonesians wanted first, was the medical support, and that will be provided by the C130s, and as we have said the Kanimbla will be turned around, she is in Singapore at the moment enroute back to Australia. She will go back to Sumatra, she has a hospital capability and also of course the two Sea King helicopters which will be able to be used even before the ship arrives on site, so this will give them added support.

Many of these crew, these Hercules crew have just got home, many… well HMAS Kanimbla hadn’t even got home, it has been a tough few months, is there any possibility that you can rotate the troops that have been used?

We do rotate as much as possible, so even in response to the Tsunami, in some instances our forces were rotated several times. But having said that, they have all been working very hard and I have no doubt that some who are returning on this mission did assist with the Tsunami rescue effort.

The experts, some seismologists are saying that there could be another big quake along that fault line, we have had two of the biggest in 100 years. Is there any possibility that we could keep a troop presence there for the longer term, just in case to provide that response?

No, that would not be appropriate for the ADF and Indonesia wouldn’t want it either. They primarily will look after their own affairs, but when it is beyond their capability as it is with the rescue operations of this type, then they are prepared to ask for support and we are keen to give it.

The Indonesian President has deferred his trip to arrive here on Sunday, there is a great deal of talk that he and the Prime Minister will sign a new security pact. How important is it for Australia to continue to nurture its Defence ties with Indonesia?

Well, I don’t think it’s planned to sign the security pack at this meeting, but a security agreement is in the process of being developed. In terms of the broader Defence relationship with Indonesia, it is important and we are growing it again and it’s building in confidence post the East Timor experience. We’re starting airborne maritime surveillance exercises this month actually and we’re looking at some patrol boat joint exercises later in the year, so this is an important regional relationship that we are continuing to grow.

This latest relief effort and the visit by President Yudhoyono, are they another two milestones I supposed in that process of developing that relationship?

Well the relief effort is because we are a neighbour and it is the right thing to do. The visit from President Yuduhono I think does demonstrate what is now the warmth in the relationship, the personal relationship between the two national leaders, and the wish of all of us that we grow closer and work together constructively for the future.

Minister Hill thank you for your time.

END