Australia, Britain boost defence links

Australia yesterday signed a defence treaty with former colonial power Britain designed to further boost cooperation on military and security issues.
Australia's Defence Minister Stephen Smith said the treaty was designed "to underpin the ongoing strategic and practical cooperation" between the nations, as well as to reflect their historical relationship.
It will see the two countries share information, technology, policy and personnel in a bid to minimise costs, as well as strengthening ties in the fields of cyber security, defence reform, equipment, and science and technology.
Smith said the idea for the accord had arisen during Australia-UK ministerial talks two years ago, to ensure all "practical cooperation measures, arrangements, protocols, and memorandums of understanding that we have... be put under a broad strategic framework".
He described the Defence and Security Cooperation Treaty as "deeply significant", adding that the relationship between the two countries "has always been first class".