Defence and security Defence and security Australia's strategic interests do not begin and end at its shoreline. Through a series of reviews of strategic and defence policies in the 1990s, the Australian Government has developed a rigorous and detailed set of priorities for force development, training, operations and equipment acquisition which will shape the direction of defence planning well into the 21st century. This reassessment of priorities has initiated a period of major change for Australia's defence organisation, which will result in large-scale efficiency gains and enhanced combat capability as more and more uniformed personnel are shifted into 'sharp end' roles. The Government is committed to maintaining the Defence funding base. The budget funding aims to give Australia the flexibility to respond at short notice to current and emerging events, while continuing to enhance the military capabilities of its Defence Force.
Coordination makes maximum use of national assets across government, industry and community.
An example is the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, for which ADF personnel are providing security expertise and general support to the organising committee and state authorities. Projects in partnership with industry Australia's frontline F-111 strike aircraft have entered the digital age with major modifications designed to enhance their capability and maintain air superiority for another 20 years. The avionics upgrade is a high-technology partnership between Australian industry, the Australian Defence Force and the Defence Science and Technology Organisation. The Australian Defence Force has made contributions to world peace by serving in combat operations and acting as UN and multinational peacekeepers and observers. Australia's postwar peacekeeping role began in 1947 when it was asked by the United Nations to provide four observers to join the UN Commission for Indonesia during Indonesia's struggle for independence from the Netherlands.