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The Assistant Minister for Defence, Stuart Robert, visited RAAF Base Glenbrook today to tour Headquarters Air Command and meet the Air Commander Australia ahead of a Change of Command ceremony tomorrow. Accompanied by the Federal Member for Macquarie, Louise Markus, Mr Robert said that Headquarters Air Command played an important role in overseeing the day-to-day running of the Air Force’s units and readiness for joint operations.

Assistant Minister for Defence Stuart Robert has paid tribute to the men and women of the Australian Defence Force during a visit to the Middle East region on the 100th anniversary of Anzac. “It is always a privilege to spend time with Australian military personnel on operations, and even more so on this solemn occasion as we mark the 100th anniversary of Anzac,” Mr Robert said. “To stand with Australia’s deployed men and women in the cold pre-dawn air, remembering the original Anzacs who landed at Gallipoli 100 years earlier, was a truly moving experience.

Increasing the number of joint Australia-Singapore defence science and technology projects was discussed during a high-level meeting between the two countries in Canberra today. Assistant Minister for Defence, Stuart Robert, met with Singapore’s Permanent Secretary for Defence Development and Second Permanent Secretary for Health, Major General Ng Chee Khern (Ret’d), and Singapore’s Chief Defence Scientist, Professor Quek Tong Boon, to discuss closer defence engagement, including science and technology cooperation.

Assistant Minister for Defence Stuart Robert today met with Mr Tan Peng Yam, the Chief Executive of Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency, to discuss closer defence science and technology cooperation between Australia and Singapore. Increased cooperation is in line with the Australian and Singaporean Governments’ desire to enhance the relationship, including through deeper defence science and technology collaboration.

 Australia and Singapore today signed a ten-year Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in defence science and technology. This is the first new defence cooperation agreement between the Australian and Singaporean Defence Organisations, as agreed in the Joint Declaration on a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by Prime Ministers Abbott and Lee, signed on 29 June 2015. Assistant Minister for Defence Stuart Robert said the agreement was a new milestone in building closer ties with Singapore through extended collaboration in defence science and technology.

The Australian Defence Force, in partnership with the Returned and Services League (RSL), is supporting a team of 36 serving and former serving wounded, injured and ill military members to compete in the inaugural Invictus Games in London in September 2014. The Invictus Games is an international adaptive multi-sport competition championed by His Royal Highness Prince Harry. More than 400 athletes from 14 countries will attend the games.

Assistant Minister for Defence the Hon. Stuart Robert MP has endorsed the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Mental Health Day describing mental health as one of the government's highest priorities in caring for ADF personnel. The aim of the ADF Mental Health Day is to encourage open and honest discussion about mental health issues, promote awareness of support services, and encourage individuals to seek help early. This year will focus on the link between a healthy lifestyle and good mental health.

The independent Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal (DFRT) has today approved the Government’s proposal to increase the pay of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel. The Government’s proposal will result in ADF members receiving a pay increase of 2 per cent each year, up from 1.5 per cent, for the remaining life of the 2014 Workplace Remuneration Arrangement (WRA).   The determination will take effect from 12 March 2015 and ensures ADF pay remains above the current annual inflation rate of 1.3 per cent.

Remuneration that better reflects Reservists’ service obligations and contribution to capability have come into effect. The Assistant Minister for Defence, Stuart Robert, said the Reserve Allowance reforms would not only benefit Reservists, but would also cut red tape. “The changes to Reserve remuneration reflect the increasing integration of the Reserve workforce into a total ADF workforce model,” Mr Robert said.

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. And, it is because of you, Australia’s defence industry that this effect has been and will be achieved.  It is industry that brings capability to our war fighters.

More than 40 Australian Government agencies and departments have formally signed up as ‘supportive employers’ to highlight their Australian Defence Force Reservist-friendly leave policies. Assistant Minister for Defence, Stuart Robert said the number and breadth of departments which had signed up to the Defence Department’s Supportive Employer Program was impressive. “This recent initiative has been particularly successful in that almost all of the major Australian portfolio departments have committed to the Supportive Employer Program,” Mr Robert said.

Australia’s Invictus Games team departed Sydney this afternoon to conduct final preparations for competition in the United Kingdom. The Australian Defence Force and the Returned and Services League (RSL) are supporting the team of 36 serving and former serving wounded, injured and ill military members. They will be among 400 athletes to participate in the inaugural Invictus Games, an adaptive multi-sport competition championed by His Royal Highness Prince Harry. Competition will run from 10-14 September in London.

The Australian inventor of the black box flight recorder has been honoured with the naming of a Defence building in Canberra. The Assistant Minister for Defence, Stuart Robert, announced today that the Canberra headquarters of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) is being named after the late Dr David Warren who developed the ‘black box’ to help in the investigation of aircraft accidents. "Dr Warren was a visionary and his invention has made an extraordinary contribution to aviation safety around the world,” Mr Robert said. 

Veterans, or the families of deceased veterans, who forfeited their medals have been urged to contact the Department of Defence. The Assistant Minister for Defence, the Hon Darren Chester MP, made the call today as he announced that the Australian Government had received the Report of the Inquiry into the Refusal to Issue Entitlements to, Withholding and Forfeiture of Defence Honours and Awards.

The Australian Defence Force in collaboration with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service this week field tested the development and supply of frozen blood products for use by the ADF. Assistant Minister for Defence, Stuart Robert MP, today visited the Enoggera Health Centre to review the remarkable work that has been undertaken during the field trials. “The aim of this innovative and collaborative partnership between the ADF and the Australian Red Cross Blood Service is to dramatically extend the shelf life of blood components,” Mr Robert said.

Assistant Minister for Defence, Darren Chester has congratulated members of the Australian Defence Force and Defence civilians who have taken part in the 2015 Defence Blood Challenge. Mr Chester attended the Canberra Donor Centre to make a donation of plasma with Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Leo Davies, AO, CSC in the last week of the Challenge. “The ADF and Defence civilians have made an incredible effort to attend a Red Cross Blood Donor Centre and make a blood or plasma donation this year,” Mr Chester said.

The annual Defence Families of Australia (DFA) conference kicked off in Canberra this week with delegates discussing all matter of issues central to the welfare of Defence families. Attending the annual conference last night the Assistant Minister for Defence, Stuart Robert, addressed delegates and emphasised the perpetual value of DFA to Defence and the Government.

Defence will raise awareness for the United Nations’ International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) on Thursday, 3 December 2015. As part of the celebrations for IDPwD, Defence will proudly participate in Lights Up for People with Disability during the week of 30 November 2015. The colours of blue – used to signify equality and accessibility – and orange – for harmony and diversity – will be projected after dark on buildings R1 and R2 at Russell Offices, Canberra.

A book covering the development of an Australian innovation that has contributed significantly to Naval ship protection was today launched by Assistant Minister for Defence Stuart Robert MP. Nulka: A Compelling Story was written jointly by Dr David Gambling, former Chief of DSTO’s Electronic Warfare Division, Don Northam of the US Naval Research Laboratory, and Mal Crozier from BAE Systems Australia.

A new $133 million Defence eHealth System linking Australian Defence Force (ADF) members’ health data from recruitment to discharge was today launched by the Assistant Minister for Defence, Stuart Robert. Mr Robert said the Australian Government is committed to ensuring ADF members are provided with the best possible health care. “At the heart of Defence’s eHealth System is the provision of improved health care for ADF members,” Mr Robert said.

Assistant Minister for Defence the Hon Stuart Robert MP today congratulated the Defence Science and Technology Group and the Department of Defence on winning the Best Creative Engagement Strategy Award from Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia. “This award is well-deserved recognition of the innovative Defence Science Partnership framework that puts Defence’s research relationship with the Australian university sector on a very productive and cost-effective footing,” Mr Robert said.

The Acting Minister for Defence, Stuart Robert, today provided an update on the support Defence has been providing to the South Australian Government to battle the fires that are currently threatening both life and property, particularly in the Adelaide Hills. The Federal Government was approached by the South Australian Government on 3 January to provide Defence assistance to the civil community.

The Government is aware of issues currently affecting the payment of some Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC) pensions, including Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits (DFRDB) and Military Superannuation and Benefits Scheme (MSBS) pensions. As the responsible agency CSC have confirmed it actioned payments in the normal manner and the problem appears to relate to the distribution of funds by Westpac to other financial institutions where pensioners have accounts.

Assistant Minister for Defence Stuart Robert MP, together with the Federal Member for Solomon, Natasha Griggs MP, today announced additional housing for the Top End. This initiative will deliver more high quality housing for Defence members while also delivering more land for residential developments that will benefit the general community. “Under the Australian Government’s plan we will deliver an additional 800 houses for Defence members and their families and, importantly, deliver over 1,500 houses for the general public in Darwin,” Mr Robert said.

Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) scientists today explored the corridors of Parliament House as part of the Science Meets Parliament event. As part of the visit the four scientists – Ms Madeleine Burchill, Dr Guy Gallasch, Ms Alison Hickman and Ms Teresa Magoga – today met with the Assistant Minister for Defence, Stuart Robert. Mr Robert said it was a fantastic opportunity to discuss DSTO projects with the scientists who work at the coal face.

The Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) will investigate the use of a new processing technology to produce high-quality, long-life, shelf-stable foods for Defence ration packs. Assistant Minister for Defence Stuart Robert said the DSTO study will examine the viability of introducing Microwave Assisted Thermal Sterilisation (MATS) technology, which has been demonstrated overseas to produce better tasting packaged foods in minutes rather than hours.

The Australian Government today tabled its response to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee report, Inquiry into firefighting foam contamination Part A - RAAF Base Williamtown. As part of its response, the Australian Government has announced the continuation of the existing financial assistance package to fishers and businesses affected by the NSW Government's precautionary closures of the Tilligerry Creek and Fullerton Cove fisheries beyond 30 June 2016 and will also introduce a new Business Transition Payment.

The Assistant Minister for Defence, Stuart Robert, spoke to wounded, injured and ill soldiers and their families at the Chief of Army’s Wounded, Injured and Ill Digger Forum in Canberra yesterday. The forum was an opportunity for soldiers and their families to share their experiences of having been wounded, injured or ill, while healthcare providers focussed on support services available for non-operational injuries and illnesses. 

Australian Defence Force members deploying to the Middle East Area of Operations as part of Force Support Unit Nine (FSU 9) were farewelled by family and friends at a parade at Lavarack Barracks, Townsville this morning. Assistant Minister for Defence, the Hon Stuart Robert MP, and the Member for Herbert, Ewen Jones MP, were among those to farewell the group.

Each year Defence sponsors a development opportunity for two of its future leaders to join a high-calibre program run by Global Voices. This year’s delegates are Ms Nuala Bethell and Sub Lieutenant Nicholas Skopal. Global Voices is a non-profit organisation which promotes an understanding and participation in international diplomacy by young Australians. The organisation does this by arranging high level meetings in Canberra and coordinating youth delegations to the world’s most important diplomatic forums abroad.