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***Check against delivery*** I am very pleased to be here at the commissioning of Navy’s helicopter training squadron for the MH-60R Seahawk ‘Romeo’. The commissioning of 725 Squadron here at the Naval Air Station HMAS Albatross, Nowra, is an important milestone for Navy and marks the formal induction of the Squadron and aircraft into the fleet. These maritime combat helicopters are the next generation submarine hunter and anti-surface warfare helicopter.

Senator the Hon Marise Payne MINISTER FOR DEFENCE  COMMISSIONING OF NUSHIP ADELAIDE  NUSHIP ADELAIDE, FLEET BASE EAST, HMAS KUTTABUL 10:40AM, FRIDAY 4 DECEMBER 2015 Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, Chief of Navy, Officers of the Armada, Commander of the Australian Fleet, commissioning crew, ladies and gentlemen.

I hosted my US counterpart, Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, in Sydney for the 29th Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) and bilateral discussions. This was the second AUSMIN that Secretary Hagel and I have participated in together and the first time I have hosted Secretary Hagel in Australia. Australia is committed to our Alliance relationship with the US, which remains the cornerstone of Australia’s strategic and security architecture. After more than 60 years, our Alliance remains as strong and relevant as ever.

Construction began today on a $157 million project to provide support facilities for the new Helicopter Aircrew Training System at HMAS Albatross in Nowra, NSW. Federal Member for Gilmore, Mrs Ann Sudmalis, represented the Minister for Defence, Kevin Andrews, at a sod turning ceremony today to signify the start of building works. Mrs Sudmalis said the project was the culmination of two years of planning by the Department of Defence to build the facilities required to support a helicopter training capability for Navy and Army.

The Australian Government has awarded a multi-million dollar contract to provide specialised vehicles for the Australian Defence Force’s Special Operations. Defence Minister Senator David Johnston today announced that Supacat Ltd will supply 89 Special Operations Vehicle – Commando, in a contract that will create approximately 150 new jobs in western Sydney and Victoria. “This will provide significant opportunities to Australian industry during the production, integration and through-life support phases of the project,” Senator Johnston said.

Defence has signed a $33.393 million contract for 28 aviation fire trucks to provide aircraft crash, emergency and fighting fire fighting responses for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the Australian Army. Minister for Defence Senator David Johnston said the new vehicles would replace and enhance existing Army and Air Force aircraft rescue and fire fighting capabilities. The contract, with Oshkosh Corporation, will offer opportunities for Australian industry during the through-life support of the vehicles.

The Turnbull Government today signed a contract with Austal Ships Pty Ltd to build and sustain up to 21 steel-hulled vessels to replace the existing fleet of Pacific Patrol Boats as part of Australia’s new Pacific Maritime Security Program. As part of the $280 million (ex-GST) contract Austal will design and construct the first 19 vessels in Henderson, securing more than 120 jobs for Western Australia.

Defence Minister Senator David Johnston today announced the Defence Materiel Organisation has signed a multi-million dollar contract with ASC Pty Ltd to update the control management and monitoring system for the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins Class submarines. Senator Johnston said the Integrated Ship Control Management and Monitoring System is a highly automated computerised system, which enables the crew of a Collins submarine to control, monitor and manage the large number of diverse and complex systems on board the submarines.

The first priority of the Abbott Government is to ensure the safety and security of our country. Right now, the Abbott Government is considering options for the Navy’s future submarines that will replace the Collins Class. As the Prime Minister has consistently said, work in Australia on the Future Submarine Program will centre in South Australia. There will be more submarines and that means more jobs for SA. This will be an exciting opportunity for the State and for Adelaide.

Today Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Marise Payne and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop attended the first Counter-Daesh Combined Foreign and Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Washington. The meeting was a timely opportunity for international coalition members to coordinate the military, humanitarian and stabilisation efforts in the campaign to defeat Daesh. Today Minister Payne also held bilateral meetings with her counterparts from France and Iraq.

Minister for Defence Senator David Johnston today announced the First Pass approval of the LAND 154 Phase 2 Joint Counter Improvised Explosive Device program, including $19.5 million for a range of capability development activities, trials, risk reduction activities and industry solicitation. “Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs) have emerged as the weapon-of-choice against Australian forces deployed in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and the effectiveness of IEDs has more recently been demonstrated in Mali and Syria,” Senator Johnston said.

This week, I will represent Australia at the Counter-Daesh Defence Ministers’ meeting in Washington on 20 July. The discussion will focus on accelerating efforts to defeat Daesh in Iraq and Syria and to stop the expansion of Daesh’s global networks. This is an important opportunity to review the progress that has been made in the military campaign against Daesh and to plan for the next phase of the campaign.

The Abbott Government is committed to investing in a safe and secure Australia. As part of this commitment – and building towards the release of the Defence White Paper – the Government today announces a three point plan that will create a sustainable naval shipbuilding industry that supports shipbuilding jobs. Firstly, the Government will work with industry to fix the Air Warfare Destroyer program. Secondly, the Government will create a sovereign submarine industry and avoid a submarine capability gap.

The Government has received the final report of the out-going Chair of the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce (DART), the Honourable Len Roberts-Smith RFD QC, and his report on Defence Abuse at the Australian Defence Force Academy. Both reports were tabled in Parliament today. Mr Roberts-Smith and his Taskforce team have worked diligently in often difficult circumstances delivering outcomes for former Defence members who have alleged abuse against them. They have worked tirelessly with complainants demonstrating empathy and compassion.

Defence Air Support to Emergency Operations Increases The Australian Defence Force has deployed additional aircraft and air operations ground support to assist with natural disaster recovery efforts across the country. In Queensland, two Army MRH90 helicopters were dispatched overnight to Rockhampton to assist with aerial inspection of the region following Cyclone Marcia.

Defence and Australian industry partners have collaborated to manufacture the first-of-a-kind counter improvised explosive device equipment. Australia continues to be on the cutting edge of the development of defence science and technology needed to address the global threat posed by improvised explosive devices.

DEFENCE+INDUSTRY CONFERENCE 2014   ADELAIDE CONVENTION CENTRE   0910 HRS, 29 JULY 2014 OPENING ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS His Excellency Shmuel Ben-Shmuel, Israeli Ambassador The German Ambassador to Australia, Dr Christoph Mueller Deputy Premier of South Australia, Minister John Rau MP Senator David Fawcett UK Government Representative - Richard Paniguian Mr Warwick Bray

Topics: Afghanistan, Iraq, Operation Sovereign Borders MINISTER ANDREWS: It’s great to be here at Defence Headquarters this morning. I’m particularly proud to have with me the Ambassador from Afghanistan to Australia, His Excellency Andisha, my parliamentary colleagues, Lynda Reynolds and Andrew Nikolic, who both served in senior positions in the Australian Army, also Brigadier Shanahan.

The Australian Defence Force has commenced operations from RAAF Bases Amberley and Richmond to Port Vila. Two Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III aircraft will deliver critical humanitarian aid and disaster relief supplies, including hygiene kits, blankets, sleeping mats, shelter kits, insect nets, water storage buckets and water purification tablets on behalf of the Australian Government. These humanitarian aid flights are expected to continue for several days.

A plan to attract and retain more Indigenous staff in Defence was released in Canberra today. Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Marise Payne formally launched the Defence Reconciliation Action Plan 2015-2018 during a ceremony at Russell Offices. Minister Payne said the Reconciliation Action Plan set out Defence’s commitment to achieving reconciliation and contributing to the national efforts to close the gap in Indigenous disadvantage. Minister Payne said the plan was developed in partnership with Reconciliation Australia and involved extensive consultation.

Defence has delivered nearly 15 tonnes of Australian Aid to Kathmandu overnight, and has evacuated 106 Australian and other foreign nationals to Bangkok. Two RAAF C-17A Globemaster III strategic airlift aircraft delivered the aid supplied by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Additional DFAT and a small number of Defence personnel will remain at the Australian Embassy in Kathmandu to help integrate the ADF resources into DFAT-led operations.

Aspiring engineers will soon have the opportunity to study alongside military personnel in the Australian Capital Territory following an agreement between the Department of Defence and the ACT Government. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne and ACT Chief Minister, Mr Andrew Barr MLA, advised that a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Defence and ACT Government had been signed to provide increased local undergraduate engineering study options.

Minister for Defence, Senator David Johnston, today announced the signing of a multi million dollar contract to significantly improve Defence communications capability with Boeing Defence Australia (BDA). “This contract – valued at more than $25-million - builds upon an initial concept further developed and tested by Ebor Computing, a South Australian based firm,” Minister Johnston said.

Defence has increased its support to Nepal with a second RAAF C-17A Globemaster III strategic airlift aircraft supporting the delivery of aid assistance as part of Operation Nepal Assist 2015. Two C-17As departed RAAF Base Amberley this morning, carrying nearly 15 tonnes of Australian aid, including:  - Six tonnes of tarpaulins  - 5 tonnes of wool blankets  - 80,000 Aqua Tab water purification tablets  - Over six tonnes of health supplies

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, today announced the Government will invest $4 million to further develop an innovative emergency flotation device for the Australian Defence Force. The Pegasus Aircraft Buoyancy System, developed by Australian company One Atmosphere in collaboration with Airbus Group Australia Pacific, is designed to provide additional buoyancy to rotary wing aircraft that have crashed or ditched at sea and potentially provide extra time for the aircrew to escape safely.

A key Abbott Government election pledge has been fulfilled with the announcement of the First Principles Review Team, an initiative designed to ensure Defence is fit for purpose and able to promptly respond to future challenges. Defence Minister David Johnston said the focus of the review would be on achieving more streamlined decisions on defence acquisitions and sustainment programs.

The Australian Government will gift two recently-decommissioned Landing Craft Heavy vessels, including a package of spare parts, to the Philippines Government, the Minister for Defence Kevin Andrews announced today. Mr Andrews said the former Royal Australian Navy vessels HMAS Tarakan and Brunei would be gifted to the Philippine Navy after being refurbished with new safety and navigation equipment. “I expect the vessels will be refitted and ready for hand over in May 2015,” Mr Andrews said.

Minister for Defence Senator David Johnston has congratulated Adelaide-based Levett Engineering on the contract award announced by Pratt and Whitney for the manufacture of F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) precision engine components. Senator Johnston said the contract was another good example of how Australia’s engagement with the JSF Program had afforded Australian industry the ability to develop new capabilities and access new markets.

Minister for Defence Senator David Johnston today announced the Government has given First Pass approval to update the Nulka Active Missile Decoy launch capability under project SEA 1397 Phase 5B. Nulka is a sophisticated anti ship missile defence system, jointly developed by Australia and the United States during the 1990s, and today is in service with the Royal Australian Navy and the navies of the United States and Canada. By 2019, the Nulka system will be fitted to 166 ships worldwide, including protecting United States aircraft carriers.

Today Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Marise Payne attended the Counter-Daesh Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Washington. The productive meeting focused on how the Coalition could accelerate and better co-ordinate efforts to defeat Daesh in Iraq and Syria and to stop the expansion of Daesh’s global networks. As previously announced, as part of the increased campaign Australia will expand the scope of Building Partner Capacity mission to train Iraqi law enforcement agencies.