THE HON ANDREW HASTIE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL

THE HON BARNABY JOYCE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS

PHILLIP THOMPSON OAM MP
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL

JOINT STATEMENT
25 YEARS OF AUSTRALIAN PEACEKEEPING IN TIMOR-LESTE

Friday 20 September 2024

Today marks 25 years of Australian service in Timor-Leste.

The Coalition acknowledges the long-standing peacemaking efforts by the Australian Defence Force (ADF), who have bravely been serving on international operations to uphold and secure peace for more than 75 years.

Around 5,500 ADF personnel were deployed to Timor-Leste in response to the humanitarian and security crisis following the country’s vote for independence in 1999 in what was the largest deployment of Australian troops since the Vietnam War.

Together with personnel from 22 other countries, the ADF helped to restore stability in Timor-Leste where Australia remained on peacekeeping operations until 2013.

Six Australians lost their lives while deployed, or as a result of their service, in Timor Leste.

Today, we honour them and the thousands of ADF personnel who contributed to international peacekeeping in Timor-Leste.

[ENDS]