The federal government has started bringing home troops from East Timor as it gets ready to move in more police to take on the job of keeping the tiny nation secure.
Some troops were believed to be returning to Townsville today, and more are due to return home in coming weeks and months.
Over the past 10 days, military assets involved in the initial deployment, including HMAS Kanimbla and three army Blackhawk helicopters, have returned to Australia.
In the next few weeks, an infantry company, about 23 armoured personnel carriers (APC) and crews, and some logistic and headquarters staff are also due to return.
But up to 2,000 military personnel could remain in place until the security situation fully stabilises.
Prime Minister John Howard flagged the reduction in troop numbers when he visited Dili last month on his first trip to the country since it erupted in violence three months ago.
Australia had about 3,000 army, navy and air force personnel in Timor at the height of its operation.
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson indicated that the Timorese government would play a role in how troops would be drawn down.
"Australia will continue to make a military contribution to East Timor to ensure that the East Timorese government is supported in maintaining peace and security," he said.
"Australia will maintain a significant defence presence ... through to the end of the year."
As the troops return to Australia, more federal police are expected to move in to keep a handle on security.
About 200 Australian Federal Police are there at the moment.
"At the moment, we are working through the United Nations on the nature of not only longer-term police presence in Timor, but also of course with security forces," Dr Nelson said.
"We expect to be working with a number of other countries, we would prefer that to be a multi-national force, but ultimately we will be guided by the government of East Timor and the United Nations."
Dr Nelson was not prepared to say how many Australian troops will remain in Timor by the end of the year.
"We will maintain significant presence there in terms of people and equipment to support peace and security in East Timor ... but at this stage I'm not prepared to indicate to you how many precisely that will be," he said.
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