The Australian Defence Force is well prepared to support the Queensland Police Service and other government agencies associated with the G20 Leader’s Summit after participating in a training exercise in Brisbane this week.
ADF elements faced several security scenarios over three days in order to test command and control systems ahead of the G20 Summit in November.
The scenarios involved fictitious threats from the land, sea and air and included Defence elements in both Brisbane and Canberra.
Commander ADF support to the G20, Major General Stuart Smith, said each situation tested a different aspect of the G20 Command and Control structure.
“While Defence is playing only a supporting role in G20, we need to be ready to respond to a wide range of possible scenarios,” MAJGEN Smith said.
“Most importantly, the ADF needs to be able to work in cooperation with the Queensland Police Service and a variety of other government organisations. This means we need to understand how each operates and adapt accordingly.”
MAJGEN Smith participated in the exercise alongside senior ADF leaders and a range of ADF elements across the Navy, Army and Air Force.
“The outcome was very pleasing,” MAJGEN Smith said.
“It was a successful test for us and also improved our linkages with the Queensland Police Service and other agencies providing security to the G20.”
Some 2,000 Defence personnel will contribute to the ADF’s support of the G20 Summit, including personnel from the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force. ADF force elements include clearance divers, pilots, explosive ordnance detection dogs and members of Special Operations Command.
The official G20 group photo at the IMF in Washington DC.
