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Joint media release Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Melissa Price MP Minister for Finance, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham The Morrison Government’s National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise has reached a major milestone today with the official start of the prototyping phase of the Hunter Class Frigate Program.

Joint Media Release Minister for Finance and Public service, Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann   The new landscape of the Osborne Naval Shipyard is taking shape with steel now being raised into place for the Hunter class construction yard. The Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, and the Minister for Finance, Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann, said it was fantastic to see the project achieving significant milestones.

The Albanese Government has today launched the Propel: Australian Submarine Scholarship program, a $15.8 million initiative to support the development of Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarine workforce.

Tens of thousands of Australian school students will have more opportunities to experience Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related activities following the extension of a vital Morrison Government schools program. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the Schools Pathway Program – a critical initiative aimed at boosting interest in STEM subjects – would continue until 2021-22 following a $5.2 million funding boost. “The Schools Pathways Program is a key initiative of the Defence Industry Skilling and STEM Strategy,” Minister Price said.

Today, as the Last Post cuts the silence of dawn, we pause to honour and remember the more than two million personnel who have served in Australia’s Defence Forces. In towns across our nation, and in many across the globe, Australians are gathering to recognise all those who have, and continue to wear our nation’s uniform.  

The Department of Defence has awarded $8.719 million (exclusive of GST) in grants over three years to fund projects by think tanks and academic institutions that contribute to the national security debate in Australia. Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP said the annual Strategic Policy Grants Program was designed to support original initiatives that help inform Defence’s strategic policy advice, as well as support more public discourse on defence and security issues.

The Albanese Government is securing a continuous pipeline of shipbuilding work in Western Australian and creating thousands of jobs through the execution of the Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement with Australia’s newly established Strategic Shipbuilder, Austal Defence Shipbuilding Australia Pty Ltd.

The Morrison Government has taken steps to strengthen the Australian Army’s helicopter capability by formally requesting advice from the United States Government on the acquisition of up to 40 UH-60 Black Hawk to potentially replace the MRH90 Taipan helicopter. Minister for Defence the Hon Peter Dutton MP said the MRH90 Taipan is currently used by the Australian Army as its utility helicopter, including support to Special Operations, and provides a maritime support capability for the Royal Australian Navy.

Australians cannot be complacent about their cyber security. At the beginning of March, Microsoft detected a vulnerability in the Microsoft Exchange software. This vulnerability gives hackers the ability to access Australian data. The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has released advice detailing the cyber security threat to Australian businesses and organisations, and links to how to patch vulnerable versions of Microsoft Exchange.

I will travel to the Pacific for a seven-day visit, from 22 to 28 August, to further enhance Australia’s regional defence engagement. My first visit to Papua New Guinea as Defence Minister will be an opportunity to meet with my counterpart, Minister the Hon Saki Soloma and continue to expand defence cooperation in aviation, maritime, infrastructure and capability development. 

Today I depart for Europe to further enhance Australia’s international defence engagement with the United Kingdom, France and NATO. Australia’s defence relationships with our European partners are based on our shared history, common values and a commitment to uphold the international rules-based order.

Joint media release: Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Melissa Price MP Defence is teaming with BAE Systems Australia and the University of Adelaide to boost interest in the study of high-frequency radar technology in a move aimed at building the number of specialist-trained engineers. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will include establishing a Centre for High Frequency Technologies, strengthening Australia’s world-leading high-frequency (HF) systems capability.

The Albanese Labor Government will bolster investment in Australia’s northern bases, committing $3.8 billion over the next four years.  A key priority area identified in response to the Defence Strategic Review is improving the ability of the Australian Defence Force to operate from Australia’s northern bases.

The Australian Army’s Special Air Service Regiment has received a long overdue major infrastructure investment with the opening of their new headquarters and operations centre at Campbell Barracks in Perth. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, said the new facilities marked the completion of the first phase of a $223.5 million four-year upgrade to the SASR’s home base at Swanbourne.

Australia is helping secure people and infrastructure across our region against malicious cyber activity by providing cyber security guides translated into regional languages. Building on Australia’s support for a peaceful, prosperous and resilient region, the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) is launching easy-to-follow advice and cyber security guides in more than 20 languages, to assist in improving cyber security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Last night I spoke with my United Kingdom counterpart, Minister for Defence Procurement, Jeremy Quin MP about the importance of working with key partners during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. I spoke with pride about Australia’s defence sector working extremely hard to keep their businesses operating safely throughout COVID-19. Rather than slowing down or stopping defence capability programs, Australian industry has safely adapted their work routines and safety practices to enable business to continue.

Defence is bringing together its intelligence capabilities under a new Defence Intelligence Group (DIG) to ensure the organisation is best positioned to support Australian Defence Force (ADF) operations and take advantage of emerging capabilities.The new Group will include the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO), Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation (AGO), and critical intelligence components from across the ADF as well as the broader Department.

For the first time, the Australian Defence Force will establish a purpose-built space workforce.  The 2024 Defence Workforce Plan highlighted the need to recruit and retain highly‑specialised personnel for emerging capabilities, including space. 

Joint media release:

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, attended the third biennial South Pacific Defence Ministers' Meeting (SPDMM) in Auckland on Thursday and today.  Minister Payne and her counterparts discussed regional security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping, and the coordination of military exercises across the Pacific. The Minister lent her active support to the Women, Peace and Security agenda in the South Pacific with the offer of training and mentoring opportunities.

Local industry will have more opportunities to participate in major Defence infrastructure projects as part of a pilot program announced by Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, today. The Local Industry Capability Plan pilot will ensure that local industry has the best possible opportunity to be involved in the Turnbull Government’s unprecedented $200 billion investment in Defence capability over the next decade, including approximately $7.7 billion to upgrade Defence facilities in the Northern Territory.

The Morrison Government will strengthen the cyber defences of deployed ADF networks and combat platforms through its $1.4 billion investment in Defence cyber capabilities over 20 years.Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC today announced the details of Joint Project 9131 Defensive Cyberspace Operations as part of the 2020 Force Structure Plan to strengthen the ADF’s deployed cyber resilience.

Australia will deploy a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to Japan to contribute to the enforcement of United Nations Security Council resolutions in our region. This is part of Australia’s active role in efforts to maintain economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea. The deployment supports the international campaign to address North Korea’s illicit trade and associated networks. 

Secondary school students across Australia are now learning more about career opportunities in the defence industry, as the Morrison Government steps up its campaign to attract the next generation of shipbuilders. Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Melissa Price MP, today launched the Naval Shipbuilding College’s national partnership with Work-Ready at a Perth school. Work-Ready is rolling out defence industry content on their online careers education platform, used by teachers to educate students about career opportunities.

MORE than 2700 young Australians in years 10 and 12 have shown they are on track to tackle the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) challenges of the future, being presented inaugural Australian Defence Force (ADF) Future Innovator Awards. Minister for Defence Personnel Darren Chester said the awards were an investment in young Australians who demonstrated motivation, innovation and achievement in a STEM related field.

On 2 February 2018, Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Marise Payne hosted Brunei Darussalam Second Minister of Defence Pehin Dato Haji Halbi bin Mohd Yussof, Indonesian Minister of Defence Ryamizard Ryacudu, Malaysian Deputy Minister of Defence HE Dato’ Sri Mohd Johari bin Baharum, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana, Singapore Senior Minister of State for Defence Dr Mohamad Maliki bin Osman and Thailand Deputy Minister of Defence General Chaichan Changmongkol in Perth for the inaugural Sub-Regional Defence Ministers’ Meeting on Counter-Terrorism.

I am pleased to announce Naval Group has signed a subcontract with Babcock International Group PLC for the design of the weapon discharge system for the Attack class submarines. The development of the weapon discharge system is critical to the overall design of the Attack class submarine. Its purpose is to launch the submarine main weapons, including torpedoes and anti-ship missiles. Babcock is a proven in‑service supporter for systems that have already been installed on the Collins class submarine and Hobart class guided missile destroyers.

Joint media release Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Melissa Price MP Australian company PMB Defence Pty Ltd and Greek company Systems Sunlight S.A. have signed subcontracts with Naval Group Australia to design the main storage batteries for the Attack class submarines through a competitive process. The Government’s $50 billion Attack class program will see 12 regionally superior submarines designed and built in Australia for the Navy.

The Albanese Government has taken the next significant step towards building nuclear-powered submarines in Australia, marking the commencement of preliminary enabling work at the Submarine Construction Yard at Osborne, South Australia. Australian Naval Infrastructure Pty Ltd (ANI) this week signed a contract with Shamrock Civil to commence construction of a staging and laydown area to support the future construction workforce for the Submarine Construction Yard.

RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Thank you, and can I start by acknowledging the Ngunnawal people, the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and pay my respect to elder's past and present.