Senator The Hon. David Feeney MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Defence
Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator David Feeney yesterday turned the first sod for the construction of a new purpose-built Australian Defence Force Military Law Centre at Victoria Barracks in Paddington, Sydney.
Senator Feeney welcomed the new Centre. The facility will house both the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Military Law Centre and the Asia Pacific Centre for Military Law.
“This new Centre will bring the finest teaching and training to Australia’s Defence Force Officers and officers from around the Asia-Pacific region. It will build on the good work already achieved by the Centre over the past 10 years,” he said.
“The new Military Law Centre will also host the military node of the Asia Pacific Centre for Military Law, a very successful partnership between Defence and Melbourne University which started in 2002,” Senator Feeney said.
These legal centres will continue to train future ADF legal officers and other officers from the Asia-Pacific region in facets of military and international law. There will be a special focus on the rule of law. Over the last decade the role of the Military Law Centre has expanded to take into account the developing needs of the wider ADF. For instance, the Military Law Centre now delivers outcomes relating to legal training of generalist officers as well as specialist officers.
The purpose of the Asia Pacific Centre for Military Law is to facilitate cooperation among military forces of the Asia Pacific Region in the research, training and implementation of the laws governing military operations.
The Centre recognises the Hon Dr. Mike Kelly’s vision and commitment to the creation of this important training institution.
For images of yesterday’s event, go to: http://adfmedia.smugmug.com/Feeney.
Media Contact: Lorna Clarke – 0408 345 730
