Speeches

Speech to the 2026 Defending Australia Summit

*** CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY *** Can I acknowledge Sam Paparo in absentia? We are enormously lucky to have Sam Paparo as the Commander of the Indo-Pacific Command. So, much of what we do in terms of the way in which we think about the operational footprint of the Australian Defence Force is done in…

Address to the 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue: Plenary Session Three

Thank you to the IISS for convening this Dialogue, and for the opportunity to speak on cooperative maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. This is the fifth Shangri-La Dialogue I have attended as Australia’s Defence Minister — and in that time the conversations have grown more urgent. The questions…

Speech at the Defence Australia Summit, Adelaide

Australia has not been a direct participant in the conflict in the Middle East and we were not a party to its commencement. But that conflict is most definitely impacting Australia, as it is our region, as it is the world. And we very much support the strategic intent of denying Iran a deployable…

Anzac Day Dawn Service, Geelong, Victoria

Can I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay my respect to elders past and present.  Can I acknowledge Mark Lee, the President of the Geelong sub-branch for the RSL, Chris Couzens, the state Member for Geelong, Stretch Kontelj, the Mayor of Geelong and…

Address to the Lest We Forget Sunset Tribute

Can I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay my respect to elders past and present.  Can I thank the Australian Remembrance Foundation for holding this event, and can I acknowledge the many very distinguished guests who join us this evening. On this 111th…

Speech to the National Press Club

I would also like to acknowledge the aviators of the Australian Defence Force currently patrolling the skies of the Middle East to help protect the United Arab Emirates, including tens of thousands of Australians, from Iranian missile and drone attacks over much of the last month. Their work has…

Launch of the Propel: Australian Submarine Scholarship

It is really exciting to be here today to launch the Propel scholarship program. Actually, what this program, I think, really points to is the size of the industrial project which AUKUS represents – and it is the biggest industrial project in our country's history.  Obviously, AUKUS is about…

Address to 2025 Indo Pacific Conference breakfast

So welcome everyone today to the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition 2025 and the accompanying Royal Australian Navy's Sea Power conference.  And quite literally, Indo Pac 2025 is bigger and better than it has ever been.  On the Navy side of the house, last count, there are 58…

Opening of the Vuvale Maritime Essential Services Centre

Can I start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and honour them. And can I also acknowledge the traditional chiefs, pay my respects, and thank everyone for the beautiful welcome that we received this morning. The culture and custom that was placed on display is not…

Remarks on the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea independence

In the life of one man or one woman, 50 years is a long time. But in the life of a nation, it is just the beginning.  And because 50 years sits within the span of the life of one man or one woman, there are people here today who were here on that day — when the Australian flag was lowered for…

Defending Australia 2025 Summit

Can I acknowledge both The Australian and The Adelaide Advertiser, and thank Michelle Gemma for the contributions you've made in putting on today.  It really is an annual event now, which is very important in the national discourse around defence policy.  I know that for a participant in…

Address at 2025 Shangri-la Dialogue Plenary Session 3: Managing proliferation risks in the Asia-Pacific

I am delighted to be back at the Shangri La Dialogue, my fourth as Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Defence.  It is a credit to the Government of Singapore and the IISS that the Dialogue has become the indispensable forum to talk about Indo-Pacific security.  Our…