Fed: Hill meets the eyes of the north

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Fed: Hill meets the eyes of the north

By Jordan Baker

TOWNSVILLE, Aug 14 AAP - Defence Minister Robert Hill today met the soldiers responsiblefor patrolling one of the most remote areas of Australia.

The 51st Battalion Far North Queensland Regiment patrols Queensland's gulf country,the Torres Strait and Cape York Peninsula.

The battalion has companies in remote towns such as Weipa, Thursday Island and MountIsa keeping an eye out for unusual activity.

It passes on information it gathers to government agencies such as Coastwatch, Customs,Health and Immigration.

Senator Hill said the soldiers did a critically important job in a working environmentwhich was often difficult.

Border protection issues such as people smuggling had created a greater understandingof the importance of patrolling remote areas of the country, he said.

"Australians want to know that the coastline is safe, they want to know what's cominginto the country," Senator Hill told reporters in Cairns.

"These patrols - some 40 patrol are operated up through Cape York and across the topof Queensland - are critically important in giving that broader capability."

The 51st Battalion's role is similar to that of NORFORCE (northern force) in the NorthernTerritory and the Pilbara Regiment in the west.

AAP jb//hu/

KEYWORD: BATTALION