Search

CHARLES CROUCHER: We’re joined by Defence Minister Peter Dutton in Perth and Deputy Opposition Leader Richard Marles in Geelong. Gentlemen, good morning. Minister, we'll start with you. Expanded sanctions and more weapons to Ukraine and still Vladimir Putin is going on the attack. What's going to stop him? PETER DUTTON: Well Charles, I think the world being united, in particular Europe staying together, and applying these sanctions and continuing to ramp up the pressure. Everybody’s shocked and nobody wants to see the horrific scenes unfolding in Ukraine.

SUBJECTS: Australia-U.S. alliance; Solomon Islands security agreement with China; Engagement in the Indo-Pacific; AUKUS agreement; Taiwan. CHARLES EDEL, HOST: Thank you so much for that talk, for that robust defence of alliances in general, and to the American-Australian alliance in particular. We have a lot of territory to cover. I’m watching the time and I know that there are a lot of people online who also have questions so we’ll see how many we can get through between defence posture, AUKUS, Quad, the Pacific.

CHRIS KENNY: Let’s cross to Perth now and catch up with the Assistant Minister for Defence, Andrew Hastie. Thanks for joining us, Andrew. First up, I wonder what you thought of Malcolm Turnbull's interventions from Glasgow?

**Check against delivery** 1 July 2020   CHRIS KENNY: Let's go to the Assistant Defence Minister, Alex Hawke, now who joins us via Skype. Thanks for joining us, Minister. Just briefly on this logo first up, you promote Australia's interests throughout the South Pacific especially. Don't you think we should stick to a kangaroo brand? Everybody knows what the hell that is.

CHRIS KENNY: Andrew Hastie served in Afghanistan for the Australian SAS. He's now the Assistant Defence Minister and he joins me now live from Perth. Thanks for joining us, Minister. The first thing I want to do is give you an opportunity to say what you want to say about that disastrous attack, about the impact on our ally, and of course our soldiers who are there working with them.  

  CHRIS KENNY: Andrew, thanks for joining us. I haven't spoken to you since you got promoted to become Assistant Defence Minister. It's a fascinating position for a former SAS captain, to be in that role of the Assistant Defence Minister, because the SAS Regiment, of course, has played such a big role in Australia's recent deployments, and at the moment, of course, is embroiled in a lot of controversy?

CHRIS KENNY: Let's cross live to Western Australia now and catch up with the Assistant Defence Minister Andrew Hastie. Thanks for joining us again Andrew, lots to talk about. I want to first give you a chance to respond to these criticisms that have come from Labor and elsewhere that the federal government was slow to mobilise the Defence Force in the Northern Rivers flood-affected areas of New South Wales, that the military just haven't been doing enough, fast enough, up there?

CHRIS KENNY: It's been an historic, tragic, and dramatic 20 years that has changed the world. Let me bring in the Assistant Defence Minister, Andrew Hastie, who joined the Army in the wake of 9/11 and served with the SAS in Afghanistan. Thanks for joining us again, Andrew. Really appreciate your time. THE HON. ANDREW HASTIE MP, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR DEFENCE: Good to be with you, Chris. 

CHRIS KENNY: I caught up earlier with the Assistant Minister for Defence, Andrew Hastie, and I started off by wishing him a happy Australia Day and asking him how he’d spent it.

CHRIS KENNY: Let's catch up with the Assistant Defence Minister, Andrew Hastie. He joins me live from Perth. Thanks for joining us, Minister. I wonder if I could just get you to start off with giving us your readout on the latest situation in Ukraine, just how far Russia has advanced, what sort of level of control it's got over Ukraine?

CHRIS KENNY:There has been an enormous focus on increased defence expenditure lately, better late than never, I suppose. Big concerns about some of our major projects, though. Let's go to the Defence Industries Minister Melissa Price, who joins us live from Canberra. Thanks for joining us, Minister. MELISSA PRICE:Thank you.

CHRIS KENNY: Let's cross to the Defence Minister Peter Dutton now. He joins us from our Sydney CBD studio. Thanks for joining us Peter. Look, Australia's got to do its bit and jump in line with these sanctions, but we don't have a lot of trade with Russia, and it's not going to have a great impact and of course, this is not in our sphere of influence, this is an issue for NATO and the countries of Europe primarily backed by the US. Are you disappointed at the lack of resolve from NATO and what they've done in the preceding months to try and warn of Vladimir Putin?

CHRIS SMITH: One person who had a very big day planned attending ANZAC marches this morning was Assistant Defence Minister Andrew Hastie who will now have to celebrate the day very differently. But nevertheless, we're very pleased to have him on our program for ANZAC Day. Minister, good morning and happy ANZAC Day to you. THE HON. ANDREW HASTIE MP, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR DEFENCE: Happy ANZAC Day to you Chris, great to be with you and your listeners.

CHRIS SMITH: We get a lot of requests from our listeners to catch up with Andrew, and we do chat with him from time to time - right now he's in Perth and I'm not sure when his Premier will let WA open up, but we're having happy to have him on the phone if we can't have him in person. He's on the line right now. Andrew Hastie, thank you very much for your time. THE HON ANDREW HASTIE MP, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR DEFENCE: It's really good to be with you and your listeners, Chris.

CHRIS SMITH: The 10th Light Horse Regiment was cut back in 1976, but today it will be re-raised. Assistant Defence Minister Andrew Hastie will be at the ceremony in Perth later today. But right now, he's on our line right here. Andrew Hastie, welcome to the programme. THE HON ANDREW HASTIE MP, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR DEFENCE: Good morning to you, Chris, and to your listeners.

CHRIS SMITH: Andrew thank you very much for your time, I won’t keep you long at all but tell us about Kimberley’s contribution to this field of work?

CHRIS UHLMANN: Well, one of the senior Ministers in Government Charles, and that's Peter Dutton. He's standing by in Brisbane. I'm standing by in Canberra. We're waiting for a Prime Minister who at the moment is in Sydney, but after nine this morning, will fly to Canberra to visit the Governor-General and call that election. So Peter Dutton, good morning.   PETER DUTTON:

DAMIAN SMITH: It's exactly 50 years since the Whitlam Government ended the National Service Scheme, and since then Australia has relied on people's enthusiasm to sign up and serve in the Defence Force.

SUBJECTS: PFAS contamination at and around RAAF Base Williamtown; Community information sessions; Re-setting how PFAS contamination is managed in the community.

SUBJECTS: Australian shipbuilding industry; Nuclear-powered submarines; Collins-class fleet. DAVID BEVAN: When an opportunity comes up to speak to the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, we're going to grab it. I had that opportunity earlier this morning. He came out to the ABC studios here at Collinswood and I began by asking him this question:

DAVID BEVAN: Good morning Peter Dutton. PETER DUTTON: Good morning David. DAVID BEVAN: Peter Dutton before we get on to the subs, you are the Member for Dickson in a northern seat in Brisbane. It's just worth pointing out that South Australians are keenly aware of how much your state has suffered over the last week or two with the floods. Brisbane, south Queensland and northern New South Wales. People are thinking of your constituents and the wider community there. PETER DUTTON:

DAVID KOCH, HOST: Now the Deputy Prime Minister will today farewell 70 Defence personnel who will deploy to the United Kingdom tomorrow and join a multinational effort to train Ukraine's armed forces. The Albanese Government promised in October to help teach infantry tactics so Ukrainians can defend their homeland against Russia's invasion. The aim is to train 20,000 troops this year. No ADF personnel will enter Ukraine as part of the program. Australia has so far provided $655 million in support.

Topics: ADF support to Victoria, Beirut explosion ***Check against delivery***

DAVID KOCH:   We're joined by Defence Minister Peter Dutton. Minister, first of all what are the troops are they going to do and why on earth has it taken so long, why haven't we done this before? PETER DUTTON: 

DAVID SPEERS: Peter Dutton, welcome to the program. Now, you criticised Queensland's three day lockdown a few weeks ago, you described it as a panicked move from Annastacia Palaszczuk, how would you describe this decision from the West Australian Premier? PETER DUTTON:

SUBJECTS: Assistance to Ukraine; AUKUS anniversary; Passing of Her Majesty The Queen. DAVID SPEERS, HOST: Richard Marles, welcome to the program. ACTING PRIME MINISTER RICHARD MARLES: Thanks, David.

DAVID SPEERS, HOST: Richard Marles, thanks for joining us this morning. RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Morning, David. How are you?

DEBORAH KNIGHT: 25 to 1. It is just putting a smile everyone's dial with little Cleo being found safe and well. Jason on the email this morning says: "I was watching the Today show this morning when Ali broke the news. I looked at my partner in disbelief and cried. Today is a great day." This as well from John. He says: "My 14-year-old daughter rang me after I dropped her at the school bus to tell me Cleo was found, and she and the kids on the bus were so excited, I could them all cheering on the background. I was ecstatic.

DEBORAH KNIGHT, HOST: Matt Thistlethwaite is the Assistant Minister for Defence, also the member for Kingsford Smith, where this facility is, and he's on the line for us now. Matt, thanks so much for joining us. How good to have a plant opening and not shutting?

Interview with Andrew Collins, Drive ABC, Western AustraliaTopics: Defence Strategic Update and Force Structure Plan***Check against delivery***