On 20 May this year, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) released New Neighbour, New Challenge: Australia and the Security of East Timor. A central finding in the report was that one of East Timor’s greatest security concerns would come from within its own borders. Accordingly, the report makes a series of recommendations that urges a greater international focus on law and order and justice issues. 

“…East Timor needs to overcome pressing internal security and law and order problems. The new Government in Dili does not have the capacity to meet these problems. Australia’s current program of aid to East Timor is doing little to help in these sectors, and other donors are doing no better. If we fail to help effectively, Australia’s security interests in a stable East Timor and a peaceful region will be at risk: East Timor may become a failed state, and a source of continuing tension between Australia and Indonesia. 

East Timor’s pressing security problems include organised gangs challenging central authority, smuggling and other border security issues, the latent threat that militia will resume infiltration from West Timor, and the risk that security forces will be drawn into politics.” 

ASPI would like to remind media outlets that this publication, and its executive summary, are both available online free of charge. The URL is: 

http://www.aspi.org.au/timor_pub/index.html 

ASPI’s Strategy and International Program, headed by Dr Elsina Wainwright, prepared the Report.

Release of an Australian Strategic Policy Report

ASPI Program Director for Budget and Management, Dr Mark Thomson today released Setting a Course for Australia’s Naval Shipbuilding and Repair Industry. 

This document addresses the key defence industry issue confronting the Government today: How should they apply their new ‘strategic approach’ to defence industry to the Naval Shipbuilding and Repair Sector. 

In releasing the publication, Dr Thomson said that: 

‘This first-time application of the new defence industry policy will have profound repercussions for all of Australian Defence industry for years to come.’ 

‘The Government’s new approach seeks to sustain critical industry capabilities through long-term partnerships with selected large companies rather than continue with open competition in all cases.’ 

‘There is a clear danger that in the absence of competition a single Australian naval shipbuilder would become complacent, bureaucratic and inefficient – in effect a privately owned Government shipyard.’ 

‘We do not think that the Government should abandon open competition for the prime contracts for shipbuilding projects.’ 

‘Instead, there are five clear steps the Government should take to improve the way Defence works with the sector, and to enhance the way industry supports Navy: 

Let commercial forces shape the sector. The Government is poorly placed to second-guess commercial forces about the shape of the industry, and if things go wrong it runs the risk of owning the solution – literally. 

Smooth the shipbuilding workload. The current planned bunching of ship acquisitions commencing near the end of the decade could be much improved to remove another boom and bust cycle. 

Reform Naval repair and maintenance. The support of the fleet needs to be underpinned by properly funded long-term contracts that make maximal use of industry capability. 

Sell ASC to the highest competent bidder. This would allow new players to enter the industry which might be able to bring non-defence work to the firm and new blood to the sector as a whole. 

Avoid Australian-unique requirements. The best way to reduce risks, contain costs and ensure timely delivery of projects is to avoid unnecessary Australian-unique equipment solutions.’ 

To find a copy of the Report go to ASPI’s website: http://www.aspi.org.au after 12:00 noon today.

Release of an Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) Occasional Paper

One of the big issues for governments to consider in the wake of September 11 is how to manage the consequences of mass terrorism, and especially an attack with biological, chemical, radiological or nuclear weapons. ASPI today released a paper that addresses this issue, entitled Recovering from Terror Attacks: A Proposal for Regional Cooperation. The paper proposes ways in which governments in the Asia Pacific might cooperate to improve their abilities to manage the consequences of a mass terror attack. 

ASPI commissioned Professor Ross Babbage to write this paper, the first of ASPI’s Occasional Paper series. Professor Babbage first raised the idea of regional cooperation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) conference of Asia Pacific Defence Ministers and other strategic thinkers and commentators in Singapore in May-June 2002-the idea generated a lot of interest among the conference participants. 

Asia Pacific governments have responded to the threat from international terrorism by focusing on the ‘front-end’ challenges of detection, apprehension and prosecution. More could be done to address the ‘back-end’ challenges- of incident management and recovery. 

A major terrorist attack using weapons of mass destruction could claim thousands of lives, and swamp a government’s capacity to manage the attack and recover from it. An enormous amount of coordination is required, from hospitals to police organisations to water management authorities. There is a strong case that regional cooperation and resource pooling should occur. 

ASPI’s aim in publishing Professor Babbage’s discussion paper is to see whether there might be scope to develop the proposal to the point that governments in the region would be prepared to place it on their agenda. 

Professor Babbage said that: 

‘The types of terrorist strikes that may be launched in the Asia Pacific in the future could be so catastrophic as to be beyond the immediate capacities of local authorities to manage alone.’ 

‘Asia Pacific governments … have a strong interest in putting in place an agreement that would facilitate close cooperation in preparing for, and in pooling resources to respond to, any future major terrorist attacks in the region.’ 

‘In the event of a country being struck by a major terrorist attack, each state could agree to assist, within its available means, through the provision of specialist search and rescue teams, medical specialists and facilities, engineering specialists and other capabilities.’

Launch of an Australian Strategic Policy Institute Major Policy Report 

Former Deputy Prime Minister and East Timor Election Observer, the Hon. Tim Fischer, launched New Neighbour, New Challenge: Australia and the Security of East Timor, in Canberra today. 

Mr Fischer said this Report ‘highlights a special priority where others would be wise to pick up the need for police security, to carry out law and order on the ground. 

….So as we salute our newest neighbour East Timor we do so with this very thoughtful paper which I think will add to the information and consideration of priorities.’ 

New Neighbour, New Challenge: Australia and the Security of East Timor is the first publication produced by the recently established Australian Strategic Policy Institute – ASPI. 

The Report makes recommendations on Australia’s security relationship with an independent East Timor, and covers:

• Australia’s strategic interests in East Timor;
• East Timor’s security problems; and
• The current state of East Timor’s security institutions and international assistance.

ASPI’s Strategy and International Program, headed by Dr Elsina Wainwright, prepared the Report with the assistance of three contributors – Alan Dupont, Professor James Fox, and Ross Thomas. Dr José Ramos Horta and Professor Hadi Soesastro wrote discrete sections providing the East Timorese and the Indonesian perspectives.

Date: Monday, 20 May 2002 
By: Australian Strategic Policy Institute

The Minister for Defence, Senator Robert Hill, this evening officially launched the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) at a function at the ANZAC Hall of the Australian War Memorial. 

ASPI has been established by the Government as an independent centre of excellence on strategic and defence policy issues. ASPI will provide specialist advice to government and contribute to public understanding of the defence and strategic challenges and choices facing Australia. 

“There is no area where public understanding and informed debate on key issues is more important,” Senator Hill said. “Yet there is not a lot of that debate in the community. 

“Outside defence circles there is little discussion on what are the appropriate roles for the Australian Defence Force. There is little discussion on whether terms of service adequately reflect the aspirations of today’s family. There is even less debate on what the public is prepared to pay for defence. ASPI can and should encourage this debate.” 

Senator Hill said the 2000 Defence White Paper provided the most comprehensive plan Australia had ever had for the development of our defence forces. The Government had also committed to substantial and sustained real increases in Defence spending over the whole of this decade to fund the development of the capabilities Australia needs. But the White Paper was just the beginning – defence policy would need to continue to evolve to meet the challenges of a changed international security environment. 

“ASPI’s success will depend on its ability to make a real contribution to the Government’s thinking and to public understanding on the questions and choices that confront Australia in the defence and strategic area,” Senator Hill said. “It is an important and exciting task. I wish Chairman Bob O’Neill and his council and Hugh White and his staff success with their mission.”

Contact: Catherine Fitzpatrick

Date: Wednesday, 13 March 2002 
By: Australian Strategic Policy Institute