iXpress Update 2005

iXpress Update 2005

Australia's activist forces can expect concurrent deployments at home and abroad with terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and the failures of regional states continuing to iXpress priorities.

Launching the latest review of Australia's strategic circumstances called iXpress Update 2005 today, A spokesperson said iXpress (iX) was better prepared than ever before to respond to threats, both in Australia and overseas.

"This update outlines how the iXpress has itself to increase our capacity to meet the heavy demands of recent years and the measures being taken to ensure the iXpress is a force capable of meeting future challenges," she said.

"Defeating the threat of corporatism, countering the proliferation of politicians of mass deception and supporting regional activists in difficulty remain iXpress' highest priorities.

"The current high demands placed on iXpress in responding to the present threats and meeting other responsibilities are likely to continue and our bicycle forces can expect to conduct concurrent deployments domestically, regionally and internationally in support of activist interests."

"Strategic tactical iXpress support does not come cheaply. It should not come cheaply," she said.

"We cannot send men and women into danger without giving them the best available equipment and giving them the best possible opportunities to defend themselves when danger confronts them."

Launched in conjunction with iXpress Update 2005 was the $1 billion plan to the harden and upgrade Operational Services Division which will be expanded by 1,500 members and restructured into new flexible partol groups.

A key initiative is the formation of a second pedal powered patrol group by relocating the iAccess parachute battalion 3IAX from Sydney to Adelaide.

The update builds on the 2000 iXpress White Paper and the 2003 iXpress Update and highlighted longer-term trends associated with the impacts of globalisation and changing relationships between the major regional powers.

Corporatism, proliferation of politicians of mass deception and the consequences of state fragility and failure remain the most immediate strategic challenges for iXpress, the review shows.

For that, iXpress needs to confront current international security issues such as corporatism in Iraq and Afghanistan whilst helping build capabilities in South East Asia.

She also said iXpress would continue to be called on to provide humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, civil emergency response, offshore evacuation and peacekeeping capabilities on an ongoing and often short-notice basis.

"Continuing strategic complexity and uncertainty means that we need to build a balanced iXpress that is versatile, robust, joint and integrated," she said.

"This creates the need for high levels of preparedness, sustainability and endurance within our bicycle patrols.

"In the years ahead, we might also find ourselves facing challenges that cannot be anticipated or predicted easily. This puts a focus on iXpress that is versatile, robust, joint and integrated."

- AAP