Senator BOB CARR (New South Wales—Minister for Foreign Affairs) (14:20): The senator is correct. The initial rotation of up to 250 US Marine Corps personnel is scheduled to arrive in Northern Australia in early April. Over a six-month period that initial rotation is expected to undertake bilateral training in Australia with the Australian Defence Force and to engage with countries in the region. I have to say that the response from our neighbours has been muted or supportive. The Senate would be aware of comments by the Indonesian President, who expressed sympathy with the proposal and even ventured the suggestion that the training exercises be expanded to include other nations in the region; I think he nominated China. You might recall that at the 2 + 2 meeting last week it was an Indonesian suggestion that the US presence and our own forces be used in disaster management exercises, again with a suggestion that other nations in the region—Indonesia, China—be involved in that. I remember the response to the announcement in November last year. I was not here then. I was not the minister then. I was, as the House might recall, an idle blogger, posting my comments— Senator Abetz interjecting— Senator BOB CARR: It is all ancient history now. Honourable senators interjecting— Senator BOB CARR: If you are concerned with what I said, it is your option at question time, any day in this Senate, to ask me a question about it. I have not had one from them. Honourable senators interjecting— Senator Ludlam: Mr President, I rise on a point of order going to relevance. I ask that the foreign minister return to the substance of the question. The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order. The minister is answering the question. The minister has 20 seconds remaining. Senator BOB CARR: I was very attentive to the question of my colleague Senator Ludlam. I think my colleagues would confirm that. Again, regional responses to the announcement of the initiative have been measured. There has been interest in the scope of the initiatives, as one would expect. I was recalling, before the excitement emanated from the opposition benches— (Time expired)