Legal officers from the Australian and Canadian navies met during a recent international maritime exercise in Sydney to compare their experiences of maritime deployments and the range of operating environments.
Fleet Legal welcomed Lieutenant-Commander Marie-Christine Fortin, of the Royal Canadian Navy, with an overview of the standard legal brief that it delivers to Australian units deploying to the Indo-Pacific region.
Lieutenant-Commander Fortin then outlined the Canadian Navy’s discipline system.
The Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Lieutenant Commander Andrew Thistleton said the exchange was a useful opportunity to share ideas.
“I’m struck by the variety and depth of legal topics we discussed over the brief and the morning’s coffee, including regional law of the sea issues, domestic operations and our respective discipline systems,” Lieutenant Commander Thistleton said.
He said a key difference was the spectrum of operations and relevant law for each navy, with the RAN involved in domestic operations under Operation Resolute, whereas this would be a Canadian Coast Guard function in Canada.
Lieutenant-Commander Fortin is the deployed legal officer on the Royal Canadian Navy ship HMCS Charlottetown, deployed under Operation Horizon and Operation Neon, and visited Australia for Exercise Kakadu.
She had previously been in Australia and undertaken Joint Operations Law Consolidation – the ADF’s most advanced operational course to certify legal officers as deployable to provide legal advice across the spectrum of operations.
‘The fact that we could discuss such varied topics in detail, in such a short time, is a testament to the close relationship between Canada and Australia.’
The Fleet Legal officers shared their observations from sea deployments in the region, a new experience for Lieutenant-Commander Fortin, who was on her first Navy deployment. Legal officers in the Canadian Armed Forces are posted to other service billets.
“I was privileged to receive a warm and collegial welcome from the Fleet Legal Officers at HMAS Kuttabul. The comprehensive brief on deployments in the Indo-Pacific region was of significant value, providing practical insights and key information that will directly support me during my own deployment,” Lieutenant-Commander Fortin said.
“While Canada and Australia share strong common values and a deep commitment to the rule of law, the opportunity to exchange perspectives on differing approaches to the application of that law among close allies and partners remains essential.
“These discussions greatly enhance mutual understanding and strengthen our ability to operate effectively together.”
Lieutenant Commander Thistleton agreed.
“The fact that we could discuss such varied topics in detail, in such a short time, is a testament to the close relationship between Canada and Australia,” Lieutenant Commander Thistleton said.
“We share the legal foundations of a constitutional monarchy and the value of the rule of law. It was very interesting and beneficial to exchange ideas on our different approaches to shared challenges and draw on this collective wisdom.”
Lieutenant-Commander Fortin took the Fleet Legal team on a tour of Charlottetown and presented the team with a can of prized maple syrup. In exchange, the Fleet Legal team introduced Lieutenant-Commander Fortin to Australia’s ‘sophisticated’ culinary tradition of a snag on bread.
