More troops in Timor

May 22, 2010


THE number of Australian Defence Force reservists serving in East Timor will increase dramatically before the end of the year.

After hinting at the move in the federal budget, the government yesterday confirmed reserve soldiers would make up 40 per cent of the peacekeeping force in East Timor during the next troop rotation, a huge increase on the current level of 8 per cent.

The parliamentary secretary for reserve support, Mike Kelly, said the increased involvement of part-time soldiers in Operation Astute would raise their number from about 30 to 160 by August. If the deployment was successful, the government would consider giving reservists the lead role in the mission, he said.

source: The Age

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