Philip Smart | Adelaide
Australian Defence leaders have hosted their New Zealand counterparts in Canberra this week, as part of an annual meeting between the Chief Executives of the two forces.
Australian Defence Secretary Mr Dennis Richardson and Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin meet annually with New Zealand Secretary of Defence, Helene Quilter and Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), Lieutenant General Tim Keating.
A century after the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps fought side-by-side on the battlefield at Gallipoli, Air Chief Marshal Binskin said the Defence relationship between the two nations remains as important as ever.
"We are pleased to welcome the NZDF's full participation in Excercise Talisman Sabre for the first time."
“The Anzac Centenary highlights the strength of our relationship, stretching from World War I to our recent operations in Afghanistan, Timor-Leste, the Solomon Islands and today in the Building Partner Capacity (BPC) mission in Iraq,” he said.
“Our efforts to support the people of Vanuatu following Tropical Cyclone Pam in March show the close cooperation between our Defence Forces extends to humanitarian and disaster relief operations in the region and, we are pleased to welcome the New Zealand Defence Force’s full participation in Exercise Talisman Sabre for the first time,” Air Chief Marshal Binskin said.
Around 620 NZDF personnel, two ships, four aircraft and nearly 50 military vehicles are currently engaged in Talisman Sabre, involving 30,000 personnel around Australia’s north coast.