Australias Position Paper By Julius Michael

Australias military contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan is deployed under Operation SLIPPER. Australias military contribution includes an annual average of 1,550 Australian Defence Force personnel deployed within Afghanistan. These numbers vary depending on operational requirements and shifting seasonal conditions. Approximately 800 personnel provide support from locations within the broader Middle East Area of Operations, including our maritime commitment. In keeping with the ISAF strategy to strengthen civilian engagement in Afghanistan and to better integrate civilian and military efforts, Australia now has around 50 civilians working in Afghanistan, in addition to around ten Defence civilians. Australias substantial military, civilian and development assistance focuses on:

Training and mentoring the Afghan National Army 4th Brigade in Uruzgan province to allow transition of lead security responsibility for the province. Building the capacity of the Afghan National Police to assist with civil policing functions in Uruzgan; Helping improve the Afghan Government's capacity to deliver core services and generate economic opportunities for its people; and Operations to disrupt insurgent operations and supply routes utilising the Special Operations Task Group.

Provincial Reconstruction Team civilian and military advisers engage directly with the Afghan Government and the community to:
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Enable the construction of roads, schools and other basic infrastructure in the province; Engage local and provincial government officials, to improve governance capacity; and, Facilitate the delivery of basic services such as health and education to the Afghan people.

These activities are critical to connecting the Afghan Government with the people in Uruzgan.

The Trade Training School, previously run by the Mentoring Task Force, has been conducting basic plumbing, carpentry, concreting and bricklaying courses since 2006. An advanced construction workers course has been offered since July 2007, providing a greater depth of training in plumbing, carpentry, concreting and bricklaying as well as developing basic Foreman skills, with the overall aim of building sustainable Afghan trade professions. Ongoing development projects being conducted by the PRT, supported by the ADF Managed Works Team, are aimed at enhancing health, education and other vital infrastructure within Tarin Kot, with ADF assisted projects having included:

Food Storage cellars in Chorah. The Tarin Kot waste management facility. The Malalai Girls School in Tarin Kot. The Tarin Kot Ministry of Energy and Water compound redevelopment. The Rosie Khan Mosque in Shar Sheklayi. This mosque is being constructed in memory of Rosie Khan who was accidentally killed by the SOTG in 2008. The Sorkh Morghab Mosque Madrassa in East Dorafshan. The Chorah Comprehensive Health Centre (CHC) extension.

Some of the projects completed by previous Australian Defence Force rotations include:

The Tarin Kot Boys High School upgrade which included the construction of a new 21-classroom building, administration building and bookstore. The Tarin Kot Boys Primary School redevelopment which involved a new 35-classroom building and an administration building. The construction of the Kowtwal Crossing - a 116 metre long, allweather crossing over the Tiri Rud. The Dorafshan Basic Health Centre development that included building separate male and female clinics and staff accommodation. The Sorgh Morghab Bazaar Development which involved construction of 30 shops.

The Talani river crossing. Sorkh Morghab Bazaar well. A new bore was drilled with the local windmill relocated over the new well. Economic Stimulus and Development Projects Chorah. The commencement of works began at the end of December 2009. The order of priority for projects was:
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Construction of a Womens Park; and A veterinary shelter and holding yard.

An all-weather crossing in the Baluchi pass. Afghan National Army Patrol Base. A Police sub station. Sajawal School. The project saw the redevelopment of the school. Over-bridging operations on Highway One in the Ghanzi and Zabol provinces. The Baluchi Health Complex. Eastern Causeway.The causeway is a 68m reinforced concrete structure that provides all weather access across the the Garmab Mandah. Tarin Kot Hospital redevelopment. National Directorate of Security Headquarters in Tarin Kot. Yaklengah Comprehensive Health Centre has been provided with an extension and renovation to the building, along with staff accommodation. Tarin Kowt Afghan Health and Development Services Training Facility renovation included the provision of training facilities, medical storage and accommodation. Talani Boys School. The project saw the redevelopment of the school.

Australia may appear small in the context of world affairs, but in the area of space exploration and research, Australia is definitely making valuable contributions.

You may be surprised to know that Australia played a major role in the greatest voyage of discovery in the history of science - the first manned Apollo mission to the Moon. Australia continues to contribute to world space exploration through a number of highly advanced observation sites all around the country and through the work of certain individuals. Australia has many other working observatories spread all over the country. In fact, it is well up with the world leaders in astronomical research. One of our leading research facilities is the RSAA (Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics). The RSAA is part of the ANU (Australian National University). The RSAA has trained many of the world's astronomical experts. It has also been involved in many new telescope design projects in Australia and overseas. In addition to this, the RSAA operates two of Australia's most famous telescopes at Siding Springs in the Central West of NSW. One of these telescopes, the Anglo- Australian Telescope, was one of the world's largest telescopes when it was first used in 1975. It was the first of the 4-metre class of instruments to be used to explore Southern skies. See image 2 Some of the world's best known colour images of galaxies and nebulae have been created using the Anglo-Australian telescope and the smaller Schmidt telescope at Siding Springs. Siding Springs is also known for being the leading centre for optical and infra-red astronomy. The research team from the ANU has joined an elite team of international researchers designing the 'Giant Magellan'. The Giant Magellan will be the largest telescope ever built. Its images will be approximately ten times clearer than those of the famous Hubble Space Telescope. It is deemed to be the very first of a whole new generation of extremely large telescopes. The Giant Magellan is due to be completed around 2016. See animation As you can see, over the years, many Australians have made important contributions to space exploration and research. These contributions have been both at national and international levels. One individual who has contributed to space exploration in a significant way is Dr Paul Scully-Power. Dr. Scully-Power has a very long and impressive list of achievements and international recognition. His fields of expertise include oceanography, aviation, aerospace, communications, defence education and the environment. In the context of astronomy, he is best known for being Australia's first astronaut. See image 3 At one stage, astronauts became very interested in how much they could observe in the oceans of the world when looking from space. Around the same time, oceanographers on Earth were realising how colour photos taken from the air could help to identify movements and changes in the oceans. Having extensive experience in the field of oceanography and aviation, Dr Scully-Power was asked to join the 'Challenger' mission in 1984 to observe and study the oceans from space. Since that time, Dr Paul Scully-Power has logged over 197hours in space. His observations have contributed a wealth of information in the field of ocean dynamics. Space crews and scientists have been able to learn from his amazing discoveries. Some of his other major achievements in the field include becoming the first president of the United Nations International Commission on Space Oceanography, and becoming a flight crew instructor in the astronaut office of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, USA.