The Australian Army had long featured as the government's force of choice to assist with natural disasters within Australia and, increasingly, for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief overseas, often alongside other government agencies and relief organisations. This chapter commences before the deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq took place. It considers those operations and other significant activities that happened while the Army was preoccupied with operations in East Timor and Solomon Islands, and subsequently Afghanistan and Iraq. The chapter looks at operations in Australia; other operations in Australia's region, often in the form of crisis response with Australia taking a leading role; operations far from Australia's shores, where often enough only token contributions were made; and regional engagement activities with neighbours, notably military exercises in Australia and abroad. A brief look at the impact of the Olympic Games and on the events of ‘9/11’ in the United States sets the stage. The years from 1999 onwards proved replete with operational challenges far and wide, many arising at short notice and others with significant planning lead times, like the Olympic Games.

Operations in Australia

For the Sydney Olympics in September 2000, the lead agency for security was the NSW Police Force. But the ADF and the Army in particular played a substantial role in ensuring that they went smoothly. An ADF Joint Task Force, JTF 112, or JTF Gold, was established in January 1999 in Victoria Barracks at Paddington, Sydney, under the command of Brigadier Gary Byles. The JTF's mission was to contribute to a secure and professional Olympic Games that enhanced the image of the ADF and the nation. After the Games, Byles said, ‘I could not have asked for a better result.’ In summing up, Byles observed that around five thousand ADF personnel, including two thousand reservists, were directly involved, with many more playing supporting roles, thus ensuring that Operation Gold delivered essential capabilities and services for a successful Olympic Games. Byles’ comments reflect detailed planning and preparation, but they also reflect a period, before 11 September 2001, when terrorism had not yet gained significant prominence in Australia. The government recognised that risks had to be mitigated, but internationally-linked and home-grown terrorism was not widely seen as a problem in Australia. Still, precautions had to be taken.