Senator the Hon Marise Payne
|
The Hon Christopher Pyne MP
24 Aug 18
Release details
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Related ministers and contacts
Senator the Hon Marise Payne
Minister for Defence
Media contact
- Henry Budd (Minister Payne’s office) 0429 531 143
- Defence Media (02) 6127 1999
Release content
30 March 2016
HMAS Canberra returns to Australia today following its successful maiden deployment to Fiji in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Winston.
Following a request from the Fijian Government, HMAS Canberra was deployed to Fiji on 1 March to deliver much needed humanitarian aid and assistance.
HMAS Canberra was loaded with 60 tonnes of emergency relief supplies, three MRH-90 helicopters and around 760 Australian Defence Force personnel including engineers, carpenters, electricians and plumbers. Australian forces worked closely with Fijian authorities to conduct recovery efforts and engineering assessments.
At the request of the Fijian Government, around 200 Defence personnel will remain as a Suva-based humanitarian assistance and disaster relief force. Four MRH-90 helicopters from Townsville’s 5th Aviation Regiment will also remain to support Fiji’s National Disaster Management Office.
HMAS Canberra will unload Queensland-based personnel and equipment in Brisbane today before arriving in Sydney later this week.
We thank the families of the men and women deployed to Fiji under Operation Fiji Assist for their support.
Media contacts:
Foreign Minister’s Office: Rachel Obradovic 0478 488 874
Defence Minister’s Office: Henry Budd 0429 531 143