INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE Australia Colonel Lindsay Morton

Scope of Presentation Stockpile Management Framework –Policy & Procedures –Physical Controls Application of Technology Defence Cooperation – Fiji – Papua New Guinea – Bougainville – Other projects Other International Assistance – Timor-Leste – Solomon Islands Challenges

Stockpile Management – Policy and Procedures Government Policies –Federal and State regulations –Departmental policies Departmental Procedures –Application –Adherence –Auditing testing and reporting

Stockpile Management - Physical Facilities Controlled access Accredited agencies and personnel Monitored and audited Inventory controls

Stockpile Management - Technology Logistic Information Systems Distribution tracking software Reduced human interaction Reporting applications

The Defence Cooperation Program (DCP) The DCP plays a key role in assisting Pacific Island nations to implement the United Nations Program of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW). DCP initiatives include the construction of armouries and magazines to secure weapons and ammunition for regional military forces, and in some cases police forces. Assistance is tailored to be as responsive to the specific needs of each host country as possible. It is a collaborative effort and is only done at the host countrys request.

Fiji The DCP provided the Fiji military with one armoury/magazine at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks in Suva in This has substantially improved small arms stockpile security. Five new armoury/magazine facilities were subsequently constructed and other existing facilities were hardened in 2006.

Papua New Guinea Australia provided seven new armouries at key Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) bases in 2002 and A program to upgrade the security of PNGDF magazines commenced in These magazines incorporate: –air-conditioning and dehumidification to provide ideal storage conditions, and –multiple layers of security, such as alarm systems and intruder- resistant perimeters.

Bougainville Australia has also taken a leading role in regional assistance efforts outside the DCP, for example in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. Following a permanent ceasefire between the parties to the conflict in 1998, the Bougainville Peace Agreement was negotiated in August 2001 and included a weapons disposal plan. Australia funded the Bougainville Transition Team in 2003 comprised of 17 unarmed civilians from Australia, Vanuatu and Fiji. The Transition Team facilitated a meeting in late 2003 between ex- combatants, resulting in a resolution that collected weapons would be destroyed and that Bougainville would become weapons-free.

Other DCP projects Construction of a new armoury for the Police in Samoa is due to begin in late This is part of an AusAID initiative to assist the Samoan Police to build capacity. Tonga and Tuvalu have sought Australian Defence support for upgrading of their armouries. Defence has also provided assistance to Pacific security forces through training in stockpile management practices and advice on enhancing the physical security of storage facilities. In 2001, ADF experts conducted an armoury and weapons inspection on Nauru, securing the police armoury and destroying a number of unwanted weapons. In 2004, ADF experts disposed of weapons and explosives held in the Kiribati police armoury.

Timor-Leste International deployment During the current deployment, the Australian-led force has collected approximately 1500 weapons, and supported the International Weapons Audit Team in conducting an audit of the Timor-Leste Police Forces weapons. DCP Under the DCP, the Australian Defence Force built an armoury for the Timor-Leste Defence Force at its main training base at Metinaro, and provided training in weapons handling and maintenance. ADF advisers have also been instrumental in having a weapons armoury built at the newest Timor-Leste Defence Force base at Baucau. These armoury facilities are very basic and have been constructed using old shipping containers.

Solomon Islands At the request of the Solomon Islands Government, Australia led the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) in mid 2003, with 14 Pacific Island nations contributing personnel. RAMSI achieved the declaration of an amnesty for the handing-in of illegal firearms, and the surrender or confiscation of over 3,600 illegal firearms, along with over 300,000 rounds of ammunition.

Challenges There is considerable variability in weapons types and holdings (for example old pistols,.303 carbines, new large calibre pistols and machine pistols), including: –semi/fully-automatic paramilitary and military rifles, military machine guns and mortars; and –historic and World War II weapons that are in poor condition but capable of firing lethal rounds.

Challenges (continued) National policies for management of holdings remain unclear, and there is a lack of appropriate training in weapons management and auditing. There is difficulty in recognising the extent of surplus weapons holdings. There is also insufficient training in weapons maintenance and handling for the types of weapons held.

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