Save Search
    Prev   Next   Return to results listPrint ListEmail Document Link

Title

Australia to join United Nations anti-piracy fight.

Database

Press Releases

Date

12-06-2009

Abstract

 

Citation Id

CRUT6

Cover date

Friday, 12 June 2009

Enrichment

 

Format

Online Text

In Government

yes

Item

Online Text: 1850168

Key item

No

Major subject

 

Minor subject

 

MP

yes

Pages

2p.

Party

ALP

Speech

No

System Id

media/pressrel/CRUT6


Note: Where available, the PDF/Word icon below is provided to view the complete and fully formatted document
Australia to join United Nations anti-piracy fight.



Download PDFDownload PDF

MEDIA RELEASE The Hon Anthony Albanese MP Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

12 June 2009 AA302/2009 Joint

Joint Media Statement

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

Stephen Smith MP Minister for Foreign Affairs

AUSTRALIA TO JOIN UNITED NATIONS ANTI-PIRACY FIGHT

Australia has today strengthened its commitment to international efforts to combat piracy off the Horn of Africa.

Australia will provide $500,000, as well as skills and expertise, to the Joint European Commission/United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime's (UNODC) Counter Piracy Program to assist Kenyan authorities in receiving and processing apprehended piracy suspects.

Australia will provide an official through the Office of the Inspector of Transport Security and the Australian Federal Police to work with the UNODC in the Nairobi Office in Kenya on dealing with piracy in the region.

The Officer will work with local authorities in Kenya and other countries in the region in dealing with piracy.

International Maritime Bureau figures show more than 100 ships were attacked and 42 hijacked in the Gulf of Aden and the Somalia region in 2008, with some 290 reported cases of piracy last year.

There have been around 60 attacks and 25 successful hijackings this year.

This pledge reinforces Australia's contribution to the international effort to combat piracy.

On 29 May, the Government announced that Australia would contribute Australian Defence Force resources to this effort, including tasking the Navy Anzac-class frigate HMAS Toowoomba and RAAF AP-3C Orion patrol aircraft to anti-piracy operations in the region.

Media Contacts

Page 1 of 2 AUSTRALIA TO JOIN UNITED NATIONS ANTI-PIRACY FIGHT

URL: http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/aa/releases/2009/June/aa302_2009.htm

Jeff Singleton ( Albanese's Office ) 0410 476 890

Courtney Hoogen ( Smith's Office ) 02 6277 7500 / 0488 244 901

Page 2 of 2 AUSTRALIA TO JOIN UNITED NATIONS ANTI-PIRACY FIGHT