Defence and development specialists met in Canberra today to debate the issues of food security and water scarcity and
their relationship to conflicts in the Australasian region and further afield.
The Crawford Fund conference at the Parliament House Theatrette, Canberra, entitled "Food, Water and War: Security in a
World of Conflict" was opened by the Hon. Alexander Downer, MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs and the keynote speaker was
the Chief of the Defence Force, Admiral Chris Barrie.
Admiral Barrie, in what is believed to be the first keynote address at a development conference by a Chief of the
Defence Force, emphasised that Australia must have a whole-of-nation approach to security issues, taking into account
factors such as access to food and water, poverty, infrastructure development, living standards, and the impact of
globalisation.
"We live in a region which features developing economies, infant democracies and increasing political instabilities from
tensions pre-dating the end of the Cold War," said Admiral Barrie.
"I believe that the Region is in a state of transition, which will fundamentally challenge many assumptions that have
guided the way economic and defence related business has been done in Asia," he said.
"We must be prepared to do more, rather than less, to maintain peace and security. I believe that as our appreciation
for the new, broader framework for security grows, Governments will be more inclined to explore opportunities to create
a closer relationship and mission between defence forces, aid organisations and development agencies," he said.
The Admiral said that there were often easier and less expensive solutions than using armed forces to respond to
immediate crises, as well as opportunities to nip some situations in the bud.
"As we will hear from specialists today, the role of development, and in particular, the importance of international
agricultural research in advancing that development, cannot be understated," he said.
"Many of the problems associated with lack of food - including hunger, poverty, unemployment and social unrest -
highlight the circular nature of the argument about what causes major conflict in the post Cold War period," he said.
"Science and agricultural development have important roles to play in both reducing the likelihood of conflict, and in
assisting with nation building post-conflict," said the Admiral.
"We must continue to work towards genuine 'regionalism' such as we have seen in other parts of the world. The defence
forces, in concert with other Government agencies and businesses, are committed to working cooperatively with other
nations in order to be a force for positive social and political development," said Admiral Barrie.
"Our recent experience in a range of situations and countries suggests that there is a need for a more holistic approach
to this challenge and this will require Governments to convince their domestic constituencies about the benefits of
active, long-term involvement with the developing world," he said.
"There is no doubt that security and economic development are linked," he said.
"Our response to regional tensions typically takes the form of aid and, depending on the crisis, military intervention
with very little integration of the two," he said.
"If we want efficient and effective delivery of assistance and a return to peace with ongoing stability, we need to
develop more processes to link the two at a policy level," emphasised the Admiral.
As an example of the non-military aspects of Australia's commitment to East Timor, Admiral Barrie quoted the work of
AusAID and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research in assisting the rehabilitation of Timor's
agricultural sector.
Admiral Barrie also addressed the important role to be played by Australian industry, quoting the efforts of the
telecommunications carriers in East Timor as one example.
"The Australian Defence Force has a dual role to play: we must actively work for peace, as well as prepare for war," he
concluded.
The remainder of the conference heard from national and international speakers explaining the benefits not only to the
peace agenda, but also to business, the environment and to agriculture, in supporting research for agricultural
development and preservation of the natural resource base of our neighbours.
A copy of Admiral Barrie's speech is available at www.defence.gov.au
Copies of all the Conference speeches and press releases are available at www.aciar.gov.au and background information is available at www.futureharvest.org
Further enquiries can be made via www.australia.org.nz