East Timor: Local Industry Engagement and Mobilization in Support of International Crisis Response

In response to pro-Indonesian violence in East Timor, military forces, Government and Non-Government Organisations from more than ten nations converged in Darwin in 1999. This reliance on Darwin as the main logistic support hub in the region occurred rapidly without the prior establishment of industry support arrangements.

Local industry logistic support and specialist engineering capabilities were urgently required to enable Navy vessels to depart Darwin as part of the coordinated military response. Ongoing support was required to enable the continuation of INTERFET military operations.

Additional logistic support arrangements were also required in Darwin to provide accommodation, travel and administrative support for international NGOs and East Timorese refugees.

Through comprehensive local industry engagement, capability assessments, and pragmatic procurement approaches, Doug established commercial arrangements with local businesses to provide the urgent support and services required. 

He then maintained constant collaboration and liaison with the various businesses supporting the East Timorese Crisis to respond to changing requirements, monitor service delivery standards and coordinate the combination of services from multiple providers. Doug also provided logistic support, procurement and technical engineering services to deliver innovative solutions to supply chain challenges. Examples included the coordination of air transportation for ship main engines from Cairns, Australia, to Dili, East Timor, gas turbine main engine replacement, repair and recertification of landing craft bow doors, and replacement and repair of electric motors and hydraulic hoses.

The commercial arrangements and close industry collaboration ensured responsive and flexible service delivery, while maintaining probity and value-for-money outcomes. This not only enabled the successful sailing of the joint Navy task force from Darwin harbour on 18 September 1999, but enabled the various forces and organisations to successfully conduct their respective operations in East Timor for the duration of the INTERFET campaign. Doug, and the team he led, received multiple commendations for the services they provided. The support provided by local industry was unprecedented and remains an exemplar for strategists and military planners.