The Left Party believes in keeping our borders safe and working with international powers to make the world a better place.
AUSTRALIA AS A REGIONAL POWER
The Australian nation maintains a unique position in the world, a liaison between the island nations of Micronesia and Polynesia and world powers such as the United States, China and the United Kingdom. It is of utmost importance to the Left party that we maintain our position as a Secondary Power. In the past 30 years, we have supported our Pacific allies through many forms, militarily and economically. A major issue in the South Pacific today is illegal fishing and drug smuggling, these are not just issues that concern the South Pacific countries; they also affect our own sovereignty as well. It is therefore imperative to our national security that we use our influence to assist our neighbours in their efforts to counteract nefarious activities within their respective maritime borders.
A key part of this support is the donation of Australian-made patrol craft to the navies of the South Pacific. Under the Hawke government, in 1984, The Australian government donated several Pacific-class patrol boat. Under our government, a replacement to the outdated Pacific-class will be provided, providing our nation with an invaluable positive reputation among Pacific Island nations, as well as well-need employment for hundreds of Australians in construction and training. As a part of our support for worldwide responsible government and the plight of oppressed people groups, we retroactively support the involvement of the ADF in Timor-Leste and Fiji in the last 20 years.
A key part of this support is the donation of Australian-made patrol craft to the navies of the South Pacific. Under the Hawke government, in 1984, The Australian government donated several Pacific-class patrol boat. Under our government, a replacement to the outdated Pacific-class will be provided, providing our nation with an invaluable positive reputation among Pacific Island nations, as well as well-need employment for hundreds of Australians in construction and training. As a part of our support for worldwide responsible government and the plight of oppressed people groups, we retroactively support the involvement of the ADF in Timor-Leste and Fiji in the last 20 years.
PEACEKEEPING
The Australian Defence Force currently has 2,241 servicemen and women deployed in 10 countries around the World. The Royal Australian Navy is currently deployed in two locations. In the Sea of Arabia, two guided-missile frigates, HMAS Darwin and HMAS Arunta, are currently operating in anti-drug smuggling activities. The RAN is also deployed in the Timor Sea, north of Western Australia, in order to intercept and detain boats containing refugees. In line with our views on refugees, we condemn any unnecessary use of force in the Timor Sea.
One of these nations is Afghanistan, the ADF’s role there is to train and equip the Afghan Defence Fore in order to ensure that a government takeover from a terrorist cell such as Al-Qaeda never happens again. We are also involved in a major role in peacekeeping in Iraq. As part of our air-commitments there, 6 F/A – 18A Hornet fighter jets, as well as 2 mid-flight refuel tankers are based; providing support and airstrikes against the retreating ISIL. We also have 240 army trainers there, to perform much the same role with the Iraqi defence force as we do in Afghanistan. The Left Party fully supports the role of the ADF in the Middle East, and we commit to ensure that the job, ie. Defeating ISIL, must be complete before we recall our forces.
One of these nations is Afghanistan, the ADF’s role there is to train and equip the Afghan Defence Fore in order to ensure that a government takeover from a terrorist cell such as Al-Qaeda never happens again. We are also involved in a major role in peacekeeping in Iraq. As part of our air-commitments there, 6 F/A – 18A Hornet fighter jets, as well as 2 mid-flight refuel tankers are based; providing support and airstrikes against the retreating ISIL. We also have 240 army trainers there, to perform much the same role with the Iraqi defence force as we do in Afghanistan. The Left Party fully supports the role of the ADF in the Middle East, and we commit to ensure that the job, ie. Defeating ISIL, must be complete before we recall our forces.
DEFENCE INDUSTRY
In 2017, 590 Australian factories are involved in producing defence products. The Left Party fully supports the defence industry in this country, as we recognise that an occupation is better than any sort of social welfare. In that, under our government, the 12 replacement submarines for the Collins class will be produced in our dockyards.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the current Australian Government.