Military on virus footing

THE Australian military is reviewing offshore exercises and exploring contingencies for a potential coronavirus outbreak.

This comes as senior brass are warned in a worse-case pandemic scenario troops could be called on for domestic biosecurity enforcement.

The Australian Defence Force has hundreds of troops on multinational training exercises including 370 RAAF personnel currently exercising with counterparts from Japan’s air force, prompting heightened risk fears to coronavirus exposure.

The US military yesterday postponed “until further notice” a planned exercise with South Korea after that country reported more than 300 new cases of the virus.

It is understood Australia is reviewing its military commitments overseas on the eve of an expected declaration by world health authorities of the virus as a pandemic.

The review also includes safety measures to stave off the spread among the thousands of ADF troops deployed to the Middle East.

Additionally, measures are being discussed to address health concerns for those off the coast of Iran where Australia has deployed warship HMAS Toowoomba and almost 200 personnel.

It is understood the possibility of having to enact the Biosecurity Act 2015 was flagged, including the potential to declare the ADF as a “National Response Agency”, effectively authorising the deputising of military personnel as biosecurity officers for domestic enforcement of safety and security measures and management of risk.