Australia's Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon stepped down on Thursday after a series of scandals, in the first major embarrassment for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Rudd, who announced the resignation at a hastily organised press conference, said Fitzgibbon had paid the price for "mistakes related to accountability." "I've made clear to my ministers over a long period of time the government expects high standards of accountability on the part of its ministers," Rudd said. "All my ministers are familiar with that and it's on that basis the minister has extended his resignation." Rudd, who came to power in late 2007, had been a staunch backer of Fitzgibbon despite a number of damaging revelations including his links to a Chinese-Australian businesswoman accused of spying for Beijing. He said the defence minister had quit after it emerged that he called an army general in charge of defence health services to a meeting with his brother, who runs an insurance company. "The minister's decision … [Read more...] about Scandal-hit Australian defence minister resigns
Australian defence minister
Australian Defence Minister to official visit to Vietnam
During the visit, which is his second to Vietnam as Australian Minister for Defence, he is expected to have meetings with his Vietnamese counterpart, General Phung Quang Thanh and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. He will also visit the National Defence Academy, the Special Forces Officers School and Unit 871, and open an Australian-sponsored English language laboratory at the Military Technical Academy. "Vietnam is emerging as a strong influence in ASEAN and its related forums. As Vietnam continues to develop, Australia welcomes it taking a greater role in contributing to regional stability and security. The growing Defence to Defence and Military to Military relationship between Australia and Vietnam is based on our mutual interest in regional security and strengthening ties through regional and multilateral engagement. Australia is committed to building these relations through senior level dialogue and practical cooperation", said Minister Smith. In recent years, Australia's … [Read more...] about Australian Defence Minister to official visit to Vietnam
Defence Minister receives heads of delegations to ADMM Plus
PANO - General Phung Quang Thanh, Vietnamese Minister of National Defence have received heads of delegations to the first ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus. These separate receptions were organised on October 11th to receive, Dato' Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Malaysia Defence Minister; Wayne Map, New Zealand Defence Minister; and Stepen Smith, Australian Defence Minister. General Phung Quang Thanh informed the guests that the ADMM Retreat, took place earlier on the day, was successful. He thanked the countries to support Vietnam in its preparatory efforts for the inaugural ADMM Plus. The general expected that the ministers would contribute actively to making the ADMM Plus a success, promoting peace and stability in the region. The Malaysian Defence Minister believed that, under the chairmanship of General Phung Quang Thanh, the ADMM Plus would be a success. He also supported Vietnam in its efforts on organising working groups to implement decisions made at the ADMM … [Read more...] about Defence Minister receives heads of delegations to ADMM Plus
Australia appreciates Vietnamese defence minister’s visit
Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith has spoken highly of the visit by a senior delegation of the Vietnamese military headed by Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh. The visit was a milestone in the relations between the two countries in general and the two armies in particular, Minister Stephen Smith told the Vietnamese guests at a meeting in Canberra on March 19. He affirmed that Australia will continue co-operation with the Vietnamese army in the coming time, especially in the field of training. The country also supports Vietnam 's viewpoint that disputes must be resolved by peaceful measures in line with international law, Minister Stephen Smith added. He said Australia welcomes Vietnam 's initiative to set up a group of experts under the framework of ASEAN Defence Ministerial Meeting Plus (ADMM+), to deal with consequences of mine and bombs left by wars. Minister Phung Quang Thanh said Vietnam attaches importance to developing the comprehensive relations with … [Read more...] about Australia appreciates Vietnamese defence minister’s visit
Australian Defence Minister visits Military Technical Academy
PANO - Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith paid a visit to the Military Technical Academy and took part in a ceremony to hand over an English language lab, a present of the Australian Defence Ministry to the Academy, on August 29th, as part of his ongoing official visit to Vietnam. At the academy, the Australian Minister spent time sharing views with the Academy’s staff and cadets on the fruitful bilateral defence cooperation, spirit of thirst for knowledge among Vietnamese generations, as well as the Australian Defence Ministry’s wish to give strength to officers and cadets under Vietnam People’s Army. … [Read more...] about Australian Defence Minister visits Military Technical Academy