Defence portfolio budget statements: Operation Catalyst

 

 

2007-2008

Portfolio Budget Statements 2007-08, Chapter Two — Resourcing, Department of Defence, Australia.

 

“2007-08 BUDGET MEASURES: Defence’s budget will be increased by $1.8 billion in 2007-08 and $7.7 billion over the Budget and Forward Estimates period for new budget measures agreed by the Government in the context of the 2007-08 Budget. These budget measures include: … $389.4m over three financial years to maintain a deployment of about 1,500 ADF personnel in Iraq”

“Operation in Iraq (Operation Catalyst:  With the continued support of the Government of Iraq, the Government has approved the continuation of Operation Catalyst that will involve approximately 1,575 deployed personnel, including the additional Army trainers deployed to the area of operation. The Government has allocated an additional $389.4m over three financial years to fund the continuation of the operation, covering maritime patrol assets, a Major Fleet Unit in the North Arabian Gulf, a Security Detachment in Baghdad, an Embedded Support Group, Force Level Logistic Assets and a Headquarters element, including enabling support for these forces. Included in the funding is provision for a Task Group, based at Tallil Air Base from which a security overwatch role is undertaken for the Southern Iraqi provinces of Al Muthanna and Dhi Qar as part of a larger Coalition Force. All up, including funding approved in prior years, Defence plans to spend $373.1m on Operation Catalyst in 2007-08.”

 

2006-2007

Portfolio Budget Statements 2006-07, Chapter Two — Resourcing, Department of Defence, Australia.

“As part of the 2006-07 Budget, the Government has decided to continue operations in Iraq at about the same levels until 30 June 2007, and has provided Defence with an additional $392.7m over three financial years for this purpose.”

 

2005-2006

Portfolio Budget Statements 2005-06, Chapter Two — Resourcing, Department of Defence, Australia.

 

“Operations in Iraq:  Operations Bastille and Falconer were Australia’s pre-deployment to the Middle East and its contribution to the United States-led war in Iraq. In July 2003, the ADF transitioned into Operation Catalyst. Operation Catalyst is the ADF’s contribution to developing a secure environment in Iraq, assisting national rehabilitation and facilitating the transition to Iraqi self-government. The net additional cost of Operations Bastille/Falconer/Catalyst was $644.7m.

In the 2004-05 Budget, the Government provided an additional $131.6m over three financial years for the continuation of Operation Catalyst throughout 2004-05, taking total funding to $776.3m. Due to the increased threat environment for ADF personnel, the Government has also provided an additional $20.8m in 2004-05 for enhanced force protection and security measures, including upgrades to protective equipment on the Australian Light Armoured Vehicle. The Government has since approved the continuation of the Operation Catalyst deployment beyond 30 June 2005, for which Defence has been supplemented $205.3m over two financial years, including $184.4m in 2005-06 and $20.9m in 2006-07. As announced by the Prime Minister on 22 February 2005, Australia’s commitment to Iraq was enhanced with the addition of a Task Group to the southern Iraqi province of Al Muthanna. This additional commitment is to provide security support for Japanese reconstruction personnel and to continue Australia’s commitment to train new Iraqi army personnel in the province. To achieve this, the Government has provided Defence with an additional $240.0m over four financial years to June 2008. All up, the net additional costs of operations in Iraq are now estimated at $1,242.4m, as shown in Table 2.6.”

 

 

2004-2005

Portfolio Budget Statements 2004-05, Chapter Two — Resourcing, Department of Defence, Australia.

“The Government will provide $131.6 million for the Australian Defence Force’s contribution to Iraqi stabilisation and reconstruction. This will allow for continuation of the deployment through financial year 2004-05. The funding for 2005-06 and 2006-07 covers the cost of repatriation and remediation of equipment. The current timeframe for, and composition of, Operation CATALYST will be kept under review.”

Operations Bastille/Falconer/Catalyst:  Operations Bastille and Falconer were Australia’s predeployment to the Middle East and its contribution to the United States-led war in Iraq. In July 2003 the ADF transitioned into Operation Catalyst. Operation Catalyst is the ADF’s contribution to developing a secure environment in Iraq, assisting national rehabilitation and facilitating the transition to Iraqi self-government. The net additional cost of all three operations as published in the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2003-04 (page 11) was estimated at $644.7m including $197.2m for Operation Catalyst. Included in this estimate was a contingency amount of $6.8m. Since the 2003-04 Additional Estimates, the Government has approved extensions to the P-3C Orion and air traffic controller deployments and the deployment of training forces to help train the new Iraqi military forces. Based on current expenditure trends, Defence expects to be able to absorb the net additional costs associated with these additional commitments within the original estimate of $644.7m including the $6.8m contingency. In the context of the 2004-05 Budget, the Government also agreed to Defence reprogramming $27.7m from 2003-04 to 2004-05 ($25.2m) and 2005-06 ($2.5m). This funding relates to the repatriation and remediation of specialist equipment and aircraft deployed during the operational phase of Operations Bastille/Falconer/Catalyst. The Government has also announced that the ADF’s contribution to the continued rehabilitation and stabilisation of Iraq post hand-over to the new Iraqi Government will continue through financial year 2004-05, for which the Government has provided supplementation of $131.6m over three financial years. Defence now expects that the net additional cost of all three operations will total $776.3m as shown in Table 2.6.”

 

2003-2004

Portfolio Budget Statements 2003-04, Chapter One — Overview, Department of Defence, Australia.

“Iraq – Funding for Operations Bastille and Falconer (Serials 20 and 26):  The total net additional cost for Operations Bastille and Falconer is estimated at $644.7m over three years, commencing 2002-03. Of this amount, $123.8m was provided by the Government in the 2002-03 additional estimates to fund pre-deployment planning activities, including the contingency purchase of essential items of inventory and specialist military equipment. In addition, $48.6m was funded in 2002-03 from Defence’s cash reserves, without reimbursement, in respect of the deployment of the P-3C aircraft ($36.1m), which have also been involved in the war against terrorism, and for the purchase of further essential items of inventory and specialist military equipment as part of pre-deployment planning activities ($12.5m). A further $248.6m in expenditure is planned to be incurred in 2002-03 from Defence’s cash reserves, with the Government agreeing to reimburse Defence in 2003 04. New funding of $197.9m and $25.8m is provided in 2003-04 and 2004-05 respectively. The 2003-04 budget does not include funding for Operation Catalyst, the Defence contribution to stabilisation and recovery operations in Iraq. Defence will fund the deployments, and any additional costs will be reimbursed in the 2003-04 additional estimates. Details are shown in Table 1.6.”