Security plans on making the 2018 APEC Meet a safe and secure event is well underway in Port Moresby.
The Exercise Long Reach 2016 workshop began on Monday with Joint disciplinary force representatives from both Australia and Papua New Guinea going into long and deep discussion into the security preparations for 2018.
The workshop is an activity based around the joint task force APEC security in 2018; planning and preparation and supporting the joint task force commander in building his understanding of command and control for APEC 2018.
Lieutenant Colonel Travis Gordon from the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters says, so far the workshop has been very successful.
“We’ve been able to develop our understanding of the large amount of issues that will impact APEC 2018,” Lt. Col. Gordon said.
He added that the main thing that has occurred is that the workshop had brought together all the agencies into one room at one time to collaborate and discuss their understanding of the issues.
“That fuels that foundation knowledge that will benefit the way security will be executed in 2018.”
The Australian Defence Force and Australian Federal Police will be supporting the Joint Task Force throughout the period leading up to APEC in 2018 with planning activities and preparations for APEC as well.