News Story: Australia's Border Force to shift focus to IS influence in Philippines - FM

CANBERRA, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- As the war against Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East begins to wind down, Australian Border Force (ABF) officials at Australia's major airports will shift their focus to the Philippines, according to Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

The rise of Islamic State's influence in the southern Philippines city of Marawi is cause for concern for those at Australia's borders, according to Bishop, who said 17 outbound international passengers have been stopped by security before boarding their flights since July 1.

She told News Corp on Wednesday that while the conflict in Iraq and Syria was dying down, the "consequences" of the victory could result in an influx of IS-inspired foreign fighters into the Southeast Asian and Australian region.

"We are concerned that should (foreign fighters) survive, our fear is they will seek to come back to our region. That may well be the consequence of the retaking of al Raqqa and Mosul," Bishop said.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: Australian Border Force’s Largest Ship Arrives in India

ABFC Ocean Shield (Click Image to Enlarge)

Amid India’s reluctance to allow the Australian Navy to be part of the annual trilateral Exercise Malabar, the Australian Border Force Cutter (ABFC) Ocean Shield ship has arrived at Chennai on a two-day visit to India as part of international co-operation.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — Naval forces of India, Japan and the US hold Exercise Malabar every year. Following a 2007 demarche issued by China to the four countries participating in the drills, Australia pulled out from Malabar in 2008. It is now keen to rejoin the exercise.

"The ship will be at Chennai until May 20, 2017. During the visit at Chennai, various events are planned by the Indian Coast Guard for mutual interaction to develop Inter-Operability between the two maritime forces," a statement issued by the Indian Coast Guard said.

Industry: Austal Rolls Out First Cape Class Patrol Boat For Royal Australian Navy

Austal (ASX:ASB) is pleased to announce the successful roll out prior to launch of Hull 380, the ninth Cape-class patrol boat designed and constructed by Austal and the first of two to be delivered to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 2017.

Australian Defence Industry Minister, The Hon. Christopher Pyne MP, Senator Chris Back and Federal Member for Canning, Andrew Hastie MP joined Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton and Austal Chairman, John Rothwell at the official roll out, completed at Austal’s Henderson Western Australia shipyard.

Mr Singleton said: “It is with great pride we welcome the Defence Industry Minister here today to celebrate not only the continuing success of Cape-class as an effective maritime border protection solution, but Austal’s proven shipbuilding capability.

News Story: 8 arrested in joint China-Australia anti-narcotics operation

SYDNEY, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Authorities have arrested eight people for allegedly smuggling 90 liters of liquid methamphetamine on a fishing boat off Australia's eastern coast following a joint China-Australia operation, the Australian Federal Police said on Thursday.

Australian and Chinese authorities established Taskforce Blaze in November 2015 to combat the production and transhipment of methamphetamine and other illegal narcotics along the China-Australia corridor.

The task force is the only joint partnership Chinese authorities have with any foreign agency.

"This successful operation again shows how law enforcement agencies from China and Australia working shoulder to shoulder with strong determination to combat multinational drug crimes, can have a strong impact on organised crime," Chinese officer in charge of the Command Center of Taskforce Blaze Deng Jianwei said in a statement.

Read the full story at Xinhua

AUS: Australia’s first P-8 Poseidon touches down

Australia's 1st P-8 Poseidon during testing in the USA (File Photo)

Australia’s newest addition to our airforce, the P-8A Poseidon, is a cutting edge surveillance and anti-submarine aircraft which will dominate the skies around the nation’s coastline.  It will greatly enhance Australia’s ability to keep our borders secure and guard our maritime approaches.

The Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP, the Minister for Defence Industry the Hon. Christopher Pyne MP and the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection the Hon. Peter Dutton MP, together with the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Leo Davies, welcomed the new Poseidons in Canberra today.

These new aircraft will strengthen our existing comprehensive maritime surveillance capability, helping secure Australia’s borders, play a vital role in the fight against people smugglers and providing state of the art anti-submarine defences.

News Story: Aussie High Commission says to work closely with Sri Lanka to stop people smuggling

COLOMBO, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Australian High Commission in Colombo said Wednesday that Australia and Sri Lanka will continue to work closely to stop the criminal activity of people smugglers.

The High Commission said that it has cooperated closely with Sri Lankan authorities to return people who have tried to enter Australia illegally.

It confirmed that a people smuggling boat carrying six Sri Lankan nationals attempting to travel illegally has recently been intercepted and the occupants have all been returned to Sri Lanka.

The High Commission said that the return shows that there has not been, and will not be, any change to Australia's border protection policies.

Read the full story at Xinhua

Industry: Expansion Cape class program

Cape Class Patrol Boat

Austal Limited (Austal) (ASX:ASB) is pleased to announce it has entered into a shipbuilding contract with the National Australia Bank to construct two further Cape Class Patrol Boats.  The contract value is $63 million.

The two vessels will be delivered to the National Australia Bank in mid-CY2017 and subsequently chartered to the Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Defence) for a minimum term of three years. Austal has successfully employed a similar off balance sheet charter of defence ships through the charter of Westpac Express to the US Navy for 13 years.

The vessels will also be sustained by Austal in accordance with the in-service support offering provided to the 8 existing Cape Class Patrol Boats designed and constructed by Austal and owned by the Australian Border Force.