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CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Firstly, I would like to thank Professor Don Winter, who has been assisting government now over several years, assisting us particularly with our submarine build over a period of time, and other important parts of this naval shipbuilding capability that we’ve been trying to build in Australia. And he has- because of his good work, we have continued to want him to be with us, and he will now head up the Naval Shipbuilding Advisory Board.

I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today, the Larrakia people – and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. Later this year, I hope we can all walk together by recognising First Nations people in our Constitution and through a Voice to Parliament. As Assistant Minister for Defence, let me also respect the many ADF personnel and veterans here this morning.

I’d like to thank Minister Shin for hosting me in Seoul and allowing me the honour of addressing the 2023 Seoul Defense Dialogue in such esteemed company as Ban Ki-Moon.

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today and pay my respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging. As the Minister for Defence Industry, I also pay my respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who have served our nation in the past and continue to do so today. Distinguished guests, friends all, since the formation in 1914 of the first Australian Imperial Force, Queenslanders have been the backbone of Australia’s defence.

It’s a privilege for me to be here with you this morning as Assistant Minister for Defence and Veterans Affairs. Citizen soldiers have sacrificed time and time again for our nation’s defence since federation, and indeed, in times when the colonies maintained their own militias pre-1901. Across both world wars, so many volunteered to serve from New South Wales. As this memorial solemnly reminds us, so many didn’t come home. We remember them. The units of today’s Royal New South Wales Regiment draw lineage from those sacrifices.

Thank you to the IISS for convening the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue, the third I have attended as Australia’s Defence Minister.  I would like to acknowledge generational leadership change in our host country. The Indo-Pacific can now continue to benefit from the experience and wisdom of Senior Minister Lee in the years ahead as we look forward to working closely with Prime Minister Wong. And we do this as next year Australia prepares to mark the 10th anniversary of the Australia-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

On It’s fantastic to be meeting with you here this morning on Gadigal land. I acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation as the traditional owners – and pay my respect to their Elders, past and present. It’s a privilege to here alongside scientists, innovators, industry leaders and so many other climate practitioners. I can feel the passion we all share for a clean energy future for our nation.

I would like to acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet, and pay my respects to their Elders, past and present. I also acknowledge all those who have, or continue to serve our nation in uniform, and the families who support them. Today I am proud to dedicate this new sculpture on behalf of the Australian people in recognition of those who have suffered as a result of their service to our nation.

Thank you to Telstra for the introduction and Gerard Henderson and the Sydney Institute for inviting me to speak this evening. And to my parliamentary colleagues in the room tonight, it is good to see you here.

Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen it is a great honour to be with you today. The work of the centre is important and I am really very grateful for the building of the relationship for people-to-people links and the organisational support of the development, the enhancement of this relationship, which is more important than ever, as we know.

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today, the Jagera people and Turrbal people, and pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. As the Assistant Minister for Defence, Assistant Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Assistant Minister for the Republic, I also pay my respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who have served our nation in the past and continue to do so today.

**** CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY *** Good afternoon everyone. It’s a pleasure to be among friends here at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, an institution that has done so much to support clear-eyed national security decision making in a complex world.

Three weeks ago, Australians elected a new Government under the leadership of Anthony Albanese. And it’s my honour to represent Australia at the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue as the new Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence. My thanks to the Director-General and Chief Executive of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Dr John Chipman, for the invitation to speak to you. I also want to thank Singapore for hosting this time-honoured event.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Melissa Price MP, today announced seven small businesses that will partner with Rheinmetall Defence Australia on two major projects for the Australian Army.  Visiting the new headquarters of Supashock Australia in Adelaide, Minister Price said the seven companies will share in nearly $20 million of work under the LAND 400 Phase 2 and LAND 121 Phase 5B.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) and an Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) have concluded their support at Burnie’s North West Regional Hospital (NWRH) following an outbreak of COVID-19 amongst its staff. Fifty members of the ADF and seven AUSMAT health professionals ensured the Emergency Department remained open, providing essential health services to more than 400 patients.

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin, and pay my respects to their elders, past and present. As the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, I also pay my respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who have served our nation in the past and continue to do so today.

Australia has concluded its contribution to the Afghan National Army Officer Academy in Qargha near Kabul. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said Australian advisors at Afghan training establishments made a valuable contribution to the future security of Afghanistan. “Our personnel have been vital to the establishment of national institutions such as the Afghan National Army Officer Academy in October 2013,” Minister Reynolds said.

Joint media release Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon Scott Morrison MP Minister for Water Resources, Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency Management, The Hon David Littleproud MP   The Australian Defence Force (ADF) will increase its support to fire authorities, deploying additional specialist personnel to advise Incident Controllers at Fire Control Centres in New South Wales.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) Cyber Gap Program is now underway, offering financial support, mentoring and Defence work experience opportunities for cyber students across Australia.   There are 48 students enrolled in this year’s pilot Program, prior to a larger intake of 250 students in 2021. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the Program, which is run in partnership with the Digital Transformation Agency, represents an important step in diversifying the Defence cyber workforce.

Joint media release: Minister for Aged Care, Minister for Sport, The Hon Annika Wells MP Australian Defence Force (ADF) contributions to aged care facilities under Operation COVID-19 Assist, which has been providing support to aged care homes impacted by the pandemic, will come to an end on 30 September 2022.

Issued by Senator the Hon Marise Payne, Acting Defence Minister Joint media release: the Hon David Littleproud, Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management   

Four Royal Australian Navy vessels and almost 700 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have arrived in Hawaii ahead of two weeks of training involving 10 nations during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2020 (RIMPAC). Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said Australia’s participation in this year’s RIMPAC exercise reflects our close alliance with the United States and the strength of Australia’s military relationships with its regional defence partners.

More than 1600 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have arrived in the United States ahead of a month of focused military training activities with 26 nations from across the globe for Exercise Rim-of-the-Pacific (RIMPAC) 2018.The ADF has deployed HMA Ships Adelaide, Success, Toowoomba and Melbourne which have been part of the Indo Pacific Endeavour 2018 task group, one submarine, diving personnel, an amphibious landing force from the 2nd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, and one P-8A Poseidon aircraft to RIMPAC.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is expanding its support to quarantine compliance efforts after National Cabinet’s decision to raise incoming passenger caps. Additional ADF personnel will support quarantine arrangements following requests from New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.

More than 40,000 Australian Defence Force (ADF) family members have joined the National ADF Family Health Program since it was launched in January 2014. Assistant Minister for Defence, Stuart Robert, said the program was a key Coalition election commitment and hoped the number of ADF family members signing up for the program would continue to grow. “As of May 2015 almost 60 per cent of all ADF dependants have signed up for the program and now receive gap-free GP services and up to $400 per dependant for recognised allied health care services,” Mr Robert said.

Applications have opened for the 2018 Australian Defence Force (ADF) Gap Year program. Minister for Defence Personnel Dan Tehan said the program offered young Australians an exciting opportunity to earn a good wage, gain valuable skills and receive subsidised accommodation and meals as well as full medical and dental cover. There are 570 positions available across Army, Navy and Air Force for 17-24 year olds with a year 12 education. Last year Defence had 3,519 applications for 495 positions and 35 per cent of participants were women.

AUSTRALIAN Service Contingents 1 and 2 who served in Rwanda on Operation Tamar were today recognised with the award of a Meritorious Unit Citation. Operation Tamar was Australia’s contribution to the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda, which consisted of sending approximately 700 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel in two contingents to provide medical support and security for the medics.

Around 250 Australian Defence Force (ADF) members from Task Group Taji Rotation 9 have returned home in time for Christmas following a successful deployment to Iraq.The group, which is comprised of troops from 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment and the wider 7th Brigade as well as the New Zealand Defence Force, touched down in Brisbane this morning following their six-month deployment.Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC acknowledged the contribution the Task Group had made during their deployment.

Australian Defence Force (ADF) members, veterans and ACT Emergency Services Agency personnel dealing with health and wellbeing challenges will benefit with the resumption of the Arts for Recovery, Resilience, Teamwork and Skills (ARRTS) program. Minister for Defence Personnel Darren Chester said the program had been suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions, but had resumed at the beginning of this month with 20 participants.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has increased its support to the people of Papua New Guinea (PNG) as a series of severe aftershocks continue to affect the country’s remote Highland areas. In response to a request from the PNG Government, a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17 Globemaster, loaded with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) supplies and ADF personnel departed from Townsville today.