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The first Defence Industry and Innovation Programs Update Report, covering the Defence Innovation Hub, Next Generation Technologies Fund and Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC), was released today showing these initiatives are successfully advancing Defence’s capability and growing Australian industry.

11:15am The Australian Defence Force (ADF) will further support the national response to COVID-19 by deploying additional personnel to assist State and Territory health authorities.  Reconnaissance and Planning Support Teams have been embedded in the Victorian, Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australian state coordination centres, with additional teams ready to assist remaining States and Territories.

The start of the 2018 Defence Blood Challenge was announced by Minister for Defence Personnel, Darren Chester today. Held from 1 September to 8 December, Mr Chester said the Defence Blood Challenge, now in its tenth year, is Australia’s largest annual blood donation event. “Through some friendly rivalry between the three Services and Defence civilians, the Defence Blood Challenge aims to strengthen Australia’s blood supplies and support the Australian community,” Mr Chester said.

Joint media release The Hon Sussan Ley, Minister for the Environment Dave Sharma MP, Member for Wentworth   New Australian technology supported by the Morrison Government is helping to clean Sydney Harbour and show how we can get more plastic and other pollution out of our waterways.

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today, the Wurundjeri people, and pay my respects to their elders, past, present and emerging. I also acknowledge the traditional owners of the land from which I am beaming to you today from, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation, and pay my respects to their elders, past present and emerging.

**Check against delivery** Thank you Paul for that very warm welcome. And I would say to the Association, Happy 50th Anniversary. I don’t think there’s been a more important time in 50 years for this organisation. To all of the honoured guests here – there’s too many to mention – Governor, Paul Irving and Commander 2Div, and to the many other distinguished guests here today. It is a pleasure to be here – what you are doing now is probably as important as it’s ever been, if not more so.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is rolling out a range of purpose-designed equipment to better serve the needs of individual ADF members and improve combatant effectiveness in the field. The new equipment, being introduced by the Fit to Perform project, includes helmets, boots, packs, uniforms, sleeping bags, body armour and medical kits.

Minister for Defence the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today congratulated Australian Defence scientist Paul Marsden on being awarded the US Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service, the highest award of the US Office of the Secretary of Defense for a non-US civilian.   Mr Marsden has been recognised by the United States (US) Secretary for Defense for developing software estimated to save more than US$33 million over the life of the F‑35 program.

Defence is inviting Australian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to submit proposals for new technologies to protect Australian small, fixed-wing unmanned aerial systems (UAS) by making them harder to detect. Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, said this was another opportunity for SMEs to contribute innovative solutions to enhance Defence capability.

The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) is now seeking industry and research partners to co-design projects as part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to transforming Australia’s defence innovation ecosystem and delivering the advanced technologies needed for our national security.

Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel will join military representatives from across the Commonwealth to undertake important ceremonial duties for the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and The Queen Consort to be held in London on 6 May.

Joint Media Release Senator for Queensland, the Hon Ian Macdonald The Department of Defence has settled with willing sellers and will establish a training area near Greenvale in North Queensland as part of the Australia-Singapore Military Training Initiative (ASMTI).  Assistant Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon David Fawcett said securing the land would provide certainty to the community and industry that the training area is going ahead. 

Joint media release: Member for Bass, Bridget Archer MP Defence is partnering with a Tasmanian company that specialises in the production of freeze-dried foods to support growth in food innovation and production.   Forager Foods has been given access to a Defence facility in Scottsdale, north-east of Launceston, to develop options that would see Defence skills and knowledge for freeze-dried meal production shared with industry.

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The Morrison Government is strengthening the capability of the Australian Army, under a multi-million dollar deed to improve field equipment.Under the Standing Offer Deed with Sea to Summit Pty Ltd, the West Australian business will provide $30m of equipment including shelters, sleeping bags, non-lethal force, adventure training, hand tools, and personal protective equipment to support ADF personnel both in Australia, and overseas.

Joint media release with Minister for Defence Industry The Hon Melissa Price MP Defence has signed a multi-million dollar contract with leading-edge Canberra company CEA Technologies Pty Ltd, for the supply of Army’s new short range ground-based air defence capability. The $137 million contract will provide advanced radars as part of the air defence system to protect our deployed forces from sophisticated air threats.

Defence has signed a multi-million dollar contract with leading-edge Canberra company CEA Technologies Pty Ltd, for the supply of Army’s new short range ground-based air defence capability. The $137 million contract will provide advanced radars as part of the air defence system to protect our deployed forces from sophisticated air threats. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the Morrison Government is committed to providing the Australian Defence Force with the best capability to defend Australia’s national interests.

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The Turnbull Government has today commenced an open market sale process to unlock the potential of the historic Defence site in Maribyrnong. The sale will be a significant step in delivering the Government’s commitment to unlock surplus Commonwealth land for housing. Spanning 127 hectares, this site is large enough to develop up to 6,000 new homes, 10 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD. This unique development opportunity will deliver housing, infrastructure and community facilities for the local community and the people of Melbourne. 

Defence employees have started work with small and medium businesses around the country as part of a new Morrison Government program aimed at giving them a hands-on insight into Australia's defence industry. The Defence Industry Secondment Program, launched today, will give Defence staff the opportunity to work inside Australian businesses and to learn new commercial skills to bring back to Defence. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the program was a valuable engagement tool to strengthen the relationship between Defence and Australian businesses.

The Albanese Government will establish an External Advisory Panel to oversee the implementation of the Defence Strategic Review (DSR) recommendations. Former Secretary of the Department of Defence, Mr Dennis Richardson AC, former Secretary of the Department of Finance, Ms Rosemary Huxtable PSM, and former Deputy Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Richard Maude have been appointed to the Panel.

Today, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister received the final Defence Strategic Review (DSR) report. Authored by former Minister for Defence, His Excellency Professor the Hon. Stephen Smith and former Chief of the Defence Force, Sir Angus Houston, the Defence Strategic Review is an independently led examination of Australia’s defence force posture, force structure and capabilities.

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, today launched the Defence Family and Domestic Violence Strategy. The strategy sets out the principles and strategies the department will use to support personnel and their families who are affected by family and domestic violence to create a more supportive and responsive workplace. Minister Payne said there was increased recognition of the importance of both preventing violence and responding effectively when it occurs.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today announced Defence had entered into Major Service Provider (MSP) agreements with four Australian industry led teams to more effectively engage with industry.

The Australian Government has safely airlifted 255 people utilising two Royal Australian Air Force flights (a KC-30A and a C-17A Globemaster III) and a Government-supported private charter from Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

I have written to the Chief of the Defence Force regarding the support that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is providing to the bushfire fighting efforts. The forecast for tomorrow is deeply worrying. Areas across the country are expected to be at catastrophic fire danger levels and all Commonwealth agencies stand ready to assist state authorities and the community.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has deployed teams across the country to work in partnership with state and territory law enforcement agencies to conduct COVID-19 quarantine compliance checks. The ADF will provide logistics support for the state and territory police as they enforce mandatory quarantine and isolation measures. In New South Wales, more than 30 ADF personnel have deployed to Sydney Airport to support state police, with at least another 40 supporting the quarantine of six separate hotels.

Today, the Australian Defence Force contribution to the national response to COVID-19 has concluded, marking the official end of Operation COVID-19 ASSIST. Since Operation COVID-19 ASSIST began, there has been over 19,000 Navy, Army, Air Force and Defence civilian personnel deploy under its auspices to support a raft of initiatives across the nation and our region.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has expanded its support to Victoria’s COVID-19 response, with around 1,400 personnel deployed in Victoria at the request of State authorities.The ADF’s current tasks include:

Joint media release Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, the Hon Karen Andrews MP Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Melissa Price MP   The Morrison Government will invest $87 million towards improving facilities at the joint US-Australian Space Surveillance Telescope, Naval Communications Station Harold E. Holt in Exmouth, on the tip of the North West Cape in Western Australia.