Launch of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) Australian Defence Almanac 2004-05

Mr Ric Smith, AO PSM, Secretary of the Department of Defence and ASPI Council member, launched the inaugural ASPI Australian Defence Almanac on Thursday, 30 September 2004. Attending the function were representatives from major defence industry corporations and senior Government officials.

Mr Smith congratulated ASPI on the choice of the subject of the Australian Defence Almanac and the timing of it release. He said, “one of ASPI’s critical roles is to support informed public debate about Defence and security issues. The new Almanac provides a baseline for that debate”.

Mr Smith said, “not only does the Almanac set out the basic numbers of Defence – its people, money and facilities – it also provides a history of the organisation and enumerates operations as far as 1947. It includes a useful list of treaties, conventions and agreements to which Australia is a party, and the international inter-governmental bodies that we’re members of. There is also a chapter on terrorism, which includes a description of our counter-terrorism arrangements”.

Mr Smith concluded, “the Almanac is a first rate contribution to an understanding of Australian Defence and security issues; a common set of facts for all of us to work from, and from which the debate can proceed”.

The ASPI Australian Defence Almanac 2004-2005 is of great value to anyone who wants information on the full range of Australian Defence activity. The Almanac is available for purchase on the ASPI website: http://www.aspi.org.au or by contacting ASPI on (02) 6270 5100.

Cleared for immediate release: Friday, 1 October 2004
Media Comment: Mr Raspal Khosa on (02) 6270 5103 (office) or 0412 246872 (mobile)