Stephen Smith MP
Minister for Defence
Today in Melbourne I welcomed United States Secretary of Defense, Dr Robert Gates, to Australia to participate in the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations, AUSMIN.
Together with Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary Gates and I will participate in AUSMIN tomorrow, Monday 8 November, at Government House in Melbourne.
The visit by Secretary Clinton and Secretary Gates will mark the 25th anniversary of the first AUSMIN talks in Canberra in 1985, and 70 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and the United States.
AUSMIN is the premier forum for strengthening Australia-US Alliance cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and globally on foreign policy, defence and strategic matters.
It is scheduled annually, with the venue alternating between Australia and the United States. The last AUSMIN was held in Washington, DC on 9 April 2009.
This evening, Dr Gates and I will lay a wreath at the Shrine of Remembrance.
Media Note: Imagery of Mr Smith with Dr Gates is available at:http://adfmedia.smugmug.com/Photos/20101107/14542521_foCf6#1080393059_fDyJH
