Thank you for inviting me to open the 2014 Defence Women in Peace and Security Conference.
I’m delighted to be here to given the opportunity to address the Japan National Press Club, and to be in Tokyo more broadly for the 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministers’ meeting.
It is a pleasure to be here today and those of you who know me will appreciate the strong interest I have in submarines. Submarines are a highly potent asymmetric capability of strategic importance to this country. Their importance is unlikely to abate, rather they will grow in significance.
SENATOR THE HON DAVID JOHNSTON MINISTER FOR DEFENCE Jakarta International Defence Dialogue Jakarta 1400, 19 March 2014 Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. REKAN-REKAN SEKALIAN SELAMAT SIANG
Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen. It is with pleasure that I address you today and follow the opening presentation delivered yesterday by Minister Johnston. The Australian Defence Force is a small but very potent military that has delivered a disproportionate effect upon every battlefield on which it has fought.
Defence and Industry - a new deal is forged Thanks Mike, to Katherine Ziesing and her team at ADM, thank you for the congress and I look forward to the good news next week I think about the arrival of number two.
SENATOR THE HON DAVID JOHNSTON MINISTER FOR DEFENCE DEFENCE AND STRATEGIC STUDIES COURSE
Thanks very much to Kokoda for the invitation.
I’d like to thank the Chief of Army for his very kind invitation to join you this morning. And firstly let me acknowledge and thank those of you who have served, those who currently serve and the families that serve with you.
Defence Ministers’ meeting Brussels Mr Secretary General, colleagues, I welcome this opportunity to attend my first ISAF Defence Ministers’ meeting. I would like to reassure colleagues around this table that the new Australian Government remains fully committed to supporting Afghanistan.
Ladies and gentleman can I begin my acknowledging Premier Weatherill - South Australia is and continues to be the Defence state, as I said approximately one week ago at PAC13.
Thank you Chris and to you, congratulations on this morning’s breakfast and for the little I have seen of PAC13 so far.
