The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator David Feeney, announced that a major exercise will be held in the North-West of Tasmania this weekend.
Army Reservists from the 12th/40th Battalion, the Royal Tasmania Regiment, will conduct tasks betweenSomerset, Burnie and Ulverstone under Reserve Response Force (RRF) training.
“This major Reserve exercise clearly demonstrates the level of expertise in Reserve capability inTasmania,” Senator Feeney said.
Local Labor Member Mr Sid Sidebottom said: “Defence has a long history inTasmania. The Gillard Government strongly supports Defence activities inTasmania. It is great to see this Exercise happening in North-WestTasmania.”
“The Reserve Response Force Exercise will be scenario based and will occur within the context of a fictitious major sporting event in the region. The Exercise will involve Reservists providing security support to Tasmania Police,” Senator Feeney said.
“Tasks will include searches of key premises, cordon and search operations and conducting vehicle control points,” Senator Feeney said.
“Tasmania Police will also be involved in certain scenarios. This Exercise will ensure that the Tasmanian Reserves and Police are able to respond quickly to any natural disasters.
“The role of the RRF is to provide support to local authorities. This occurred during the recent Queensland floods, Cyclone Yasi and Victorian bushfires,” Senator Feeney said.
“Part of this assessment is working at the platoon level so the weekend will encompass individual and collective training as part of the fictional scenario,” Lieutenant Colonel Colin Riley said.
“A number of soldiers from the Battalion are contracted to the 9 Brigade Reserve Response Force and this weekend provides an opportunity for training and assessment of these members,” Lieutenant Colonel Colin Riley said.
Lieutenant Colonel Colin Riley said the RRF skills have also been utilised at major events such as the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, APEC and World Youth Day 2008.