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Subjects: Combat rations, Defence industry, US Force Rotation, Defence White Paper ANDREW NIKOLIC:

Subjects: Iraq and Syria, Submarines MINISTER PAYNE:

Topics: US-Australia Alliance, Syria. QUESTION: Minister our relationship with the US is already long and deep, how do we make it even deeper? MINISTER ANDREWS:

MINISTER PAYNE:

Topics: Wedgetail aircraft, Australian military involvement in Iraq MINISTER ANDREWS: Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming out to RAAF Fairbairn base today. I’d like to acknowledge the Deputy Chief of Air Force Air Vice-Marshall Leo Davies, the Country President of Boeing here in Australia, Maureen Doherty and colleagues, my colleagues Senator Zed Seselja from the ACT and Natasha Griggs MP, Member for Solomon and President of the Defence Backbench Committee for the Coalition.

Monday 29 February 2016 Subjects: CEA Technology, Defence White Paper, ABCC, tax reform DEFENCE MINISTER:

It has been a great honour to serve as Australia’s Minister for Defence. The safety and security of the people of Australia is the first priority of government.  During the last nine months, there have been significant achievements in Defence. The fragile trust between Defence and Government was restored. The Government’s flagship achievement in this time has been the commitment to implement a continuous build of surface warships in Australia.  This enduring decision provides certainty for Navy, the Australian Defence Force and defence industry. 

Topics: RAAF first strike in eastern Syria   MINISTER ANDREWS 

Subjects: Counter terrorism, ADF, ABCC, ICAC PRIME MINISTER:

Doorstop with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Minister for Industry Christopher Pyne and Chief of Navy Tim Barrett, Osborne, South Australia Tuesday, 26 April 2016 Subjects: Submarine contract, ASC, South Australian jobs PRIME MINISTER: Very good. Well I am proud to be here as Prime Minister, with the Minister for Defence, the Minister for Industry and the Chief of the Navy to announce that Australia’s future fleet of submarines, our future submarines, twelve regionally superior submarines will be built here at Osborne in South Australia.

Today I was joined by Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Stuart Mayer, CSC, and Bar, RAN, to farewell the 230 officers and sailors of HMAS Melbourne as she departed for the Middle East region. Melbourne will deploy for seven months to conduct counter terrorism, counter piracy and narcotics interdiction operations as part of multi-national Combined Maritime Forces as part of Operation MANITOU, the Australian Defence Force’s contribution to the region.

The Australian Government has given second pass approval for LAND 2072 Phase 2B to provide the Australian Defence Force with the next generation of battlespace telecommunications network capability, with an acquisition program cost of around $900 million. Approval of this project is a critical milestone in achieving a modern, networked Army. This equipment will enable deployed forces to operate more effectively, providing digital communications from theatre headquarters to the unit-level.

Exercise KOWARI, the first land-based trilateral military exercise between Australia, China and the United States, concluded today marking an important milestone in defence cooperation between the three countries. Based out of Larrakeyah Barracks in Darwin, the exercise began on 7 October and involved 10 participants from each country.

 With France, Germany and Japan having confirmed their participation as potential international partners in the Australia’s future submarine programme, the Government today announces the establishment of the Expert Advisory Panel, which will oversee the competitive evaluation process. The Expert Advisory Panel will assure the Government that the competitive evaluation process remains sound, is conducted in accordance with probity and accountability principles, and that participants have been treated fairly and equitably. The members of the Expert Advisory Panel are:

MINISTER ANDREWS: Thank you ladies and gentlemen. With France, Germany and Japan now having confirmed their participation as potential international partners in the Australia’s future submarine programme, the Government today announces the establishment of the Expert Advisory Panel, which will oversee the competitive evaluation process.

Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Marise Payne today welcomed the announcement by the United States Air Force (USAF) declaring Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter The USAF today announced the F-35A is now equipped to conduct basic close air support, interdiction, and limited suppression/destruction of enemy air defences in contested environments. The USAF joins the United States Marine Corps in proving the F-35A and F-35B are combat-ready.

“It is with great pride that I confirm the awarding of the nation’s highest military honour, the Victoria Cross for Australia, to Corporal Cameron Baird, MG of the 2nd Commando Regiment. It is with sadness I announce the honour is being conferred posthumously,” Defence Minister David Johnston said today. Corporal Baird was killed in action by small arms fire on Saturday, 22 June, 2013, battling insurgents in Uruzgan Province, in southern Afghanistan. He was 32 years old.

The seventh C-17A Globemaster III aircraft arrived in Australia at RAAF Base Amberley today, marking the fastest C-17A delivery in our fleet. Minister for Defence Kevin Andrews said the rapid acquisition of the aircraft is a testament to the close relationship that exists between Australia and the United States.  “The active involvement of a number of United States and Australian agencies has been pivotal in meeting the successful delivery of this aircraft and I applaud everyone involved in the acquisition program,” Minister Andrews said.

Defence Minister David Johnston today hailed as an “outstanding success” the delivery of the first two of 24 US-built MH-60R Seahawk Romeo maritime combat helicopters to be acquired by the Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. “The handover of the first pair of Romeos means Navy’s Fleet Air Arm is now equipped with one of the world’s most advanced and modern anti-submarine and surface warfare platforms currently in operation,” Senator Johnston said.

The Australian Government had provided First Pass approval for project SEA 1448 Phase 4B – ANZAC Air Search Radar Replacement. The ANZAC frigates use their air search radar to scan at long ranges for potential threats. The radar is an integral part of a modern warship and important for ensuring the safety of the vessel and other friendly ships in dangerous areas. The current ANZAC radar is old and requires replacement with modern technology to maintain the robust front-line capability provided by these ships.

The Australian Government has given First Pass approval for Joint Project 157 Phase 1 - Replacement National Support Base Aviation Refuelling Vehicles. Australian industry is encouraged to tender for the project, which offers a number of opportunities for Australian industry involvement both in the acquisition and the support phases.

Today the Government releases the First Principles Review of Defence. The Review delivers on a Coalition election commitment to ensure that Defence is appropriately structured and organised and has the right business practices in place to support the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in the 21st century. The Review found that Defence has implemented significant changes and improvements since the 1990s and has a proven record of delivering in the field, on operations and in humanitarian and emergency support roles at home and abroad.

On 5 August 2014, I announced the external panel who are conducting the First Principles Review of Defence. The panel has been commissioned to ensure Defence is fit for purpose and able to respond to future challenges. The First Principles Review Team will make recommendations designed to ensure Defence’s business structures support the Australian Defence Force’s principal tasks out to 2030.

Topics: South Australian jobs, Navy capability, shipbuilding LEON BYNER: Well, we have the Federal Defence Minister, Senator Marise Payne, who has called in. Marise, I haven’t spoken to you before so it’s nice to meet you. MINISTER PAYNE: It’s very nice to meet you to Leon. LEON BYNER: Now, tell me why you are calling. MINISTER PAYNE:

A contract worth almost $5 million between the Defence Materiel Organisation and Newcastle-based shipbuilder Forgacs Engineering Pty Ltd, for the manufacture of a 30 metre Landing Craft Medium, to be gifted to the Kingdom of Tonga by the Australian Government has been welcomed by the Minister for Defence, Senator David Johnston.   Senator Johnston said the Australian-built vessel would be gifted to the Kingdom of Tonga as a sign of Australia’s long?standing commitment to the South Pacific.

The Australian Minister for Defence, Senator David Johnston, and his French counterpart, Minister for Defence of the French Republic Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian have met in Australia to discuss shared interests between both countries. The visit took place from 31 October to 2 November 2014. Both Ministers attended the Albany Convoy Commemorative Event on 1 November marking the 100th anniversary of the departure of the first convoy of ships carrying the Australian Imperial Force and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to the First World War.

Defence Minister Senator David Johnston today officially opened CAE Australia Pty Ltd’s new King Air 350 Full Flight Simulator facility in Sale, Victoria. Joined at the opening by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Darren Chester, who is also the local Member, Senator Johnston said the facility primarily supported the Royal Australian Air Force’s Number 32 Squadron and the School of Air Warfare.  “It enables aircrew to receive critical training in Australia that was previously only available through overseas providers,” Senator Johnston said.

I am pleased to announce that $5 million is available in the latest round of the Skilling Australia’s Defence Industry (SADI) initiative that has opened today. The SADI Programme is designed to boost the essential skills of workers in the defence industry sector. This is yet another example of the Abbott Government recognising the significant value to our nation of having a workforce that supports the ADF. We are committed to working closely with Australian industry to bring about a safer and more secure Australia.

The latest round of funding under the Skilling Australia’s Defence Industry (SADI) initiative was announced today by Minister for Defence, Senator David Johnston. Senator Johnston said more than $5 million in funding would be made available to industry in the 2014-15 financial year under round one of the SADI Program to boost the skills of workers in the defence industry sector.

Minister for Defence Senator David Johnston today congratulated Chief of the Defence Force General David Hurley on his appointment as the next New South Wales Governor. Senator Johnston said General Hurley, who completes his tenure as the Chief of the Defence Force on 30 June 2014, is an exceptional officer and an outstanding Australian. “His leadership and dedication, including his tenure as Vice Chief, and then as Chief of the Defence Force, has been fundamental in shaping the Australian Defence Force of today,” Senator Johnston said.