Statements

Minister for Defence - Statement from the Minister for Defence

It has been a great honour to serve as Australia’s Minister for Defence. The safety and security of the people of Australia is the first priority of government.  During the last nine months, there have been significant achievements in Defence. The fragile trust between Defence and Government…

Minister for Defence - Australia welcomes Japanese defence reform

I welcome the decision of the Japanese Government to reform its defence policies to enable Japan to play a greater role in promoting peace and security in our region and internationally. The reforms to Japan's defence policies will enable the further strengthening of Australia's defence and…

Minister for Defence - Statement on Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Operations in the Middle East

I speak today to update the Parliament and the Australian people about Australia’s Defence operations in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, the broader Middle East region and our maritime approaches. IRAQ & SYRIA – OVERVIEW Since my last Defence Force operations update to the Parliament, we’ve seen…

Minister for Defence - Australia-Republic of Korea Foreign and Defence Ministers 2+2 Meeting

Joint Statement 11 September 2015

Minister for Defence - Blueprint for Defence and Security Cooperation Between Australia and the Republic of Korea

1.                 Senior Dialogues and Consultation Activity or proposed activity (a)   Australia and the Republic of Korea (ROK) hold biennial Foreign and Defence Ministers’ 2+2 meetings. (b)  …

Minister for Defence - Joint Communiqué - India - Australia Defence Ministers’ Meeting

India’s Minister of Defence, Manohar Parrikar, hosted the Australian Minister for Defence, Kevin Andrews, in New Delhi on 2 September 2015 to discuss issues of shared strategic interest and the current state of the bilateral defence relationship. The Ministers acknowledged the positive progress…

Minister for Defence - Opinion Editorial for The Hindu, India

Building on the personal relationship of Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Abbott, I am pleased to visit India for the first time as Australia’s Defence Minister. India is the emerging democratic super power of Asia. It is therefore sensible that the relationship between India and Australia be…

Minister for Defence - Opinion Editorial - Adelaide Advertiser

The Defence Teaming Centre (DTC) comments this week undermines the certainty that defence industry in South Australia is looking for. I have been advised by Defence that the figures used by DTC are speculative and uninformed and that it is premature to speculate about the cost breakdown per state…

Minister for Defence – Opinion Editorial – Reply to Hugh White, The Age

Hugh White claims that the Government’s plan to invest in appropriately capable maritime forces is a mistake and part of a cynical vote buying exercise. This couldn’t be further from the truth. As the Chief of Navy said on 4 August 2015, "This (continuous shipbuilding plan) provides certainty for…

Minister for Defence - BAE Williamstown

Yesterday evening I was advised by the Chief Executive of BAE Systems Australia, Mr Glynn Phillips, that BAE intends to announce further reductions of their Williamstown workforce. The Government is disappointed by this decision taken by BAE but has no control over the commercial decisions of…

Minister for Defence - Opinion Editorial - The Government’s Historic Commitment for Naval Shipbuilding, The West Australian Newspaper

Over the next few decades, the biggest regeneration of the Royal Australian Navy since the Second World War will take place. That regeneration will be the centrepiece of the Abbott Government’s fully funded and cost assured Defence White Paper that will be released later this year. This White Paper…

Minister for Defence - Joint Statement - Japan-US-Australia Defense Ministers Meeting

1. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, and Australian Minister for Defence Kevin Andrews held trilateral defense ministerial talks in Singapore on May 30, 2015, on the margins of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La…