Australia will participate in the latest Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) exercise, the Minister for Defence, Senator Robert Hill, and the Minister for Justice and Customs Senator Chris Ellison, said today.

The Exercise, Team Samurai 04, which will be held today, includes the Royal Australian Navy ANZAC class frigate HMAS ARUNTA and an Australian Customs boarding search team.

Senator Hill said the Japanese Coast Guard-led maritime interdiction exercise is the first of the continuing series of PSI training exercises to be held in the North East Asian region. The first PSI interdiction exercise was held in Australia in September 2003.

This activity is also significant for being the first PSI exercise to in which Russia has sent observers. The United States and France will also participate in Team Samurai 04, as they did in the first exercise in Australia.

"These exercises provide an opportunity for countries to be able to work together to improve procedures and readiness in the prevention of the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and missile-related trade," Senator Hill said.

Minister for Justice and Customs Senator Chris Ellison said PSI was an important exercise because it was one of the only opportunities available to Customs personnel to work alongside international agencies as part of a joint training exercise.

"I know our Customs personnel have benefited from the first PSI exercise held in Australia and it will be good to continue this cooperation and build on the experiences and lessons learned during the last exercise," Senator Ellison said.

Senator Hill said Australia would continue to demonstrate its strong commitment to stopping the proliferation of WMD by hosting the eighth meeting of the PSI working group in Sydney from 30 November to 2 December.

These meetings have opened up participation in PSI activities to additional countries, with representatives from Russia and Greece attending the most recent meeting in Oslo in August. It is expected that there will be an opportunity for increased participation from regional countries at the Sydney meeting.

"This meeting will provide regional countries with the chance to gain a clearer understanding of how the aims and objectives of PSI create practical outcomes to prevent the spread of WMD," Senator Hill said.

"The meeting will discuss legal frameworks and integrate legal, operational and intelligence issues associated with PSI activities. The increasing participation of countries at these meetings demonstrates the growing global support for PSI. Representatives from at least 17 countries are expected to attend the Sydney meeting.