Minister for Defence - Transcript - Press Conference ABC News 24

MARISE PAYNE:                   

Ladies and gentlemen thank you so much for joining me here this morning, I wanted to take this opportunity whilst still in Canberra and between briefings to speak to you about what I regard as an extraordinary honour and a very humbling appointment of myself as Australia's Minister for Defence.

There is clearly no more important obligation or duty for Government than protecting the safety of our nation and of our people, and the role of Minister for Defence in that capacity in the cabinet is a very significant one. And I take it on with a great sense of responsibility, a great sense of history and honour, as I said, and a very significant obligation to our nation. This is and continues to be in fact a very challenging time for our defence forces, for our national security. And I recognise that those men and women who are deployed around the world will potentially, when they're not absolutely busy doing other things, be watching activities in Australia and see a new Defence Minister. And I want to acknowledge them and the work that they do every single day for this nation, thank them for that, and tell them they have my absolute commitment to serve as best as I possibly can in the interests of our nation and in the interests of the members of the ADF.

I have been the minister for Human Services, as you know, for two years. That is the Centrelink, Medicare, child support job, support of Australia's most vulnerable people, and it was an incredibly important role and I was very pleased to have had that opportunity. Having been made the Minister for Defence though, I must say that my long interest in this area, my absolute passion for this aspect of policy in Government gives me an opportunity to work in a way which I absolutely welcome. Some of you - and there is people who have been around here even longer than me, and I have been here for a while - some of you will know I spent over a decade as a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade. I chaired one of its sub committees and just before the election in 2007 was in fact appointed as the chair of that Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. I was a member of and for a period chaired the Senates Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committees, and in that time, engaged in and led some of the most important reports into defence and international security issues that the Parliament had considered for a long time.

So coming to this role now, I bring, as I said, an absolute passion. I have taken that passion internationally over the years. I have spent a significant amount of time in Timor Leste during the INTERFET period, a significant amount of time in the Solomon Islands. Had the opportunity to visit the Middle East and visit our troops deployed there in places like Afghanistan and Kuwait, the Persian Gulf, and Kurdistan just to name a few. I spent time in New Zealand, in Japan, in China with some of our key- in some of the countries of our key relationships over many years. And the chance to do this role now, through the support of Prime Minister Turnbull is something which I welcome very warmly.

Apparently I am Australia's first female Defence Minister. All I ask is that I am judged on my performance, not on my gender. But if, as female Defence Minister and Australia's first female Defence Minister, I can encourage or that appointment encourages one extra young woman in this nation to consider a career in defence, to consider a career in politics, or encourages one woman currently serving in the ADF or part of the defence public service in what they are doing, then I think that is an absolutely fabulous thing. So in terms of Prime Minister Turnbull's initiative in that regard, bringing me into the cabinet in this role, bringing my extraordinarily hard working and high performing colleagues, Michaelia Cash and Kelly O'Dwyer to join Julie Bishop and Sussan Ley, that is a real message about gender in this country, about gender balance, about balance in leadership and in decision making at the apex of government. And obviously I am extremely honoured to have the opportunity to participate in that. And also to work alongside the highly experienced Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, in the environs of the National Security Committee and the cabinet.

I am the daughter of a World War Two veteran. An enlisted soldier from Burrawang, in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales. I could not be prouder to stand here today in that capacity, if no other. My father was my inspiration; he fought for this nation in New Guinea, in Noumea, and he came back to Australia after World War II so proud of what this nation could achieve on the international stage. Fast-forward many, many decades, I have enormous pride in what this nation can and does do on the national stage- the international stage, and I look forward to continuing to make a contribution in that regard.

Very happy to answer any questions.

QUESTION:                           

Minister, will you bring any new priorities to the role as Defence Minister, including on submarines?

MARISE PAYNE:                   

Well David I have had the opportunity in the last 24 hours for initial briefings from the Chief of the Defence Force's Mark Binskin, and the secretary of the department. Briefings will obviously continue over the next four days but I'm not going to announce new priorities or changed priorities in the first 24 hours of a ministerial role. And I think there is probably a lot of questions like that, and the same answer would apply to be honest.

Chris?

QUESTION:                           

Minister, you are bringing down a white paper shortly. The Prime Minister last night was speaking about China's territorial ambitions in the South China Sea, saying it was one of the more counterproductive foreign policies undertaken by China. What is your view on that and how will that affect the white paper?

MARISE PAYNE:                   

I heard the Prime Minister's remarks last night, and I know he has spoken about this earlier in the year for example in a speech he gave on this issue. And I think his remarks were very considered, I would have no difference with those remarks. As to its effect or otherwise on the white paper, that is a matter that we will come to in due course.

Catherine?

QUESTION:                           

Minister can I ask as to the timing of the white paper, will that alter? And what personally have you seen so far of the operation in Iraq before this week, and what are your thoughts about their(*) mission now into Syria?

MARISE PAYNE:                   

In terms of the timing of the white paper, the Government intends to proceed with the timetable that was previously set out. In terms of current activities in Iraq, not a personal visit at this stage but something that I will obviously intend to undertake in due course.

QUESTION:                           

Minister given the problems with the culture in the Defence Force in recent years, how can having a female Defence Minister change that, and do you think there has been change?

MARISE PAYNE:                   

Let me starting at the back end of that Lane. I think there has been change. I think the work of the former Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, in that regard with the strong support of the former Chief of Army, David Morrison, has made some very significant differences in defence. I suspect, am not yet briefed I suppose to say, but I suspect there is still more to do. And I intend to play a very strong role in supporting the leadership of the ADF and public service of the ADF, of defence, in bringing whatever further changes need to be made about. But it is fair to say that in my experience as part of, for example, the Senate's very comprehensive military justice inquiries some years ago, that there needed to be change. And I am very pleased to see that process is well underway.

QUESTION:                           

Minister, do you see our mission in Syria continuing to expand?

MARISE PAYNE:                   

I am not going to make any specific comments on those sorts of issues Latika because I am still in the briefing process. I of course support the Government's decision recently in terms of our current activity, matched by a significant humanitarian contribution, and also by the decision in relation to bringing 12,000 refugees from the region to Australia. But in due course we can talk about those issues in more depth.

QUESTION:                           

What do you see Australia's role in the world in what we can do in terms of our capability?

MARISE PAYNE:                   

I think Australia's role in the world speaks for itself, to be frank with you. A couple of the situations I mentioned that I had some involvement in in recent times, whilst a member of the Senate, are indicative of that themselves, whether it is Timor Leste, whether it is initial engagements in the Middle East, whether it is dealing with the issues in the Solomon Islands much closer to home, the respect with which we are held internationally by the United States, by the United Kingdom, by key members of the European Union, by our close neighbours is an indication of that. The Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and I met briefly yesterday with the US ambassador, John Berry, and that I hope reinforces for anyone who may have had an alternative view, that that is a key- that is a key meeting for this Government and for Prime Minister Turnbull, a key indication of where we intend to take it.

I have indicated to the PM this morning that after the AUSMIN talks which are in the United States in early October, I would very much like to take the opportunity to visit Indonesia, to visit with the Indonesian Defence Minister, General Ryacudu, and make myself known to him.

Over the back?

QUESTION:                           

You're on the National Security Committee of Cabinet, apparently the Border Protection and Immigration Minister is not, and that has been the subject of some criticism. What is your view on whether the Border Protection and Immigration Minister ought to be on that committee?

MARISE PAYNE:                   

I think that is a matter I would leave to the Prime Minister, Tim. He makes these decisions and they are made in the responsibility of that role. I will leave that to him.

QUESTION:                           

Minister can I ask you, the 2009 white paper raised some hackles regionally because it came as a surprise to regional countries. I mean you've just mentioned Indonesia, but I just wondered whether you have thoughts about briefings to Beijing early on in the piece to explain or socialise what the white paper might have to say on regional relations?

MARISE PAYNE:                   

Not at this stage but I am waiting on briefings on that.

[Indistinct].

QUESTION:                           

Minister can I ask you generally about the threat you see Islamic State posing to Australia, how do you see Islamic State and what kind of threat it does pose to this nation, given that the former prime minister constantly talked about it coming to get us?

MARISE PAYNE:                   

We have clearly been operating in a different paradigm for some time now with a non-state actor as our principle challenge or opponent. And I think that has shifted approaches to engaging on these issues, to dealing with these issues on an international basis, not just domestically. There is absolutely no doubt that there are individuals, leaders in that organisation who are intent upon disrupting western democracies' ways of life, absolutely no doubt. Whether we link that retrospectively in a discussion around the post-September 11 environment to where we are in 2015. That really has changed the way that the world deals with these things. I don't think that the magnitude of the threat should be underestimated. I think it is a very serious threat, there is no question. Andrew.

QUESTION:                           

Minister can I ask you your attitude on ship building and procurement. The previous prime minister had the offshore patrol vessel contract and dangled it effectively before four different states - WA, South Australia, Victoria, even Tasmania. What approach will you take to that critical project, the offshore patrol vessels?

MARISE PAYNE:                   

Well I would take the approach of ensuring that we build the best capability possible for the Australian defence forces and that we support Australian industry as far as we can in doing that. I intend to work very closely with Minister Mal Brough, the minister for defence material in this role and with the senior officers of the ADF in being briefed about that and I know that there is a competitive line of state premiers and industry ministers out there who are very keen to engage on those issues, from all of those states that you mentioned. Dennis.

QUESTION:                           

The previous prime minister had guaranteed funding at a level for defence. When you were appointed have you been given a guarantee that the defence funding will continue at that level?

MARISE PAYNE:                   

Not specifically at this stage but it is not a discussion that I have yet had. That is a briefing for later this week. I know this is an invidious period of time to try and pursue those details but you really do have to bear with us in that process. But I understand that that is a very serious commitment from government and most importantly, that we recognise without a strong economy, which is the major task ahead of us, as well as the work that I am going to do, without a strong economy we can't possibly support that level of spending. So we are very well attuned to that. Michelle.

QUESTION:                           

Just following up that question, you have come from a very big spending department and you are now in another big spending department. Over the years, there has been a lot of concern about inefficiencies in spending in defence. Do you believe, from what you know so far, that it is now an efficient department in spending or are there more areas that need to be gone through for economies?

MARISE PAYNE:                   

Well it will certainly, Michelle, give me a different approach to the Budget papers that I had in Estimates for a long period of time, sitting on this side of the table. I am sure there are always areas to pursue where greater efficiencies and greater effectiveness of the dollar can be found. But I think that under the leadership of Dennis Richardson and the senior officers of the department, that considerable progress has been made in that regard.

In human services, we had 34,000 staff, I think I have now tripled that number in staff terms and added some kit that doesn't exist in human services, it is fair to say. The challenge for the management of a department this size and of an ADF the size that we have, is obviously a very significant one but I know that every single person involved in the senior administration of the department is committed to ensuring that we do manage it as effectively and efficiently as possible and that is absolutely my motivation.

QUESTION:                           

Just on the submarine contract, just on that will you want to move the focus off Japan and if I can also ask on the polls today, is that vindication for Team Turnbull?

MARISE PAYNE:                   

I'm not going to speak about the polls but I'm also not going to speculate about the submarines either. I think I have made my point clear on that.

QUESTION:                           

There has been a degree of concern about a revolving door for defence ministers lately. What assurance would you give to the defence community that you intend to stay in the role for a long time and what do you consider to be an appropriate length of time for a defence minister to really get things done?

MARISE PAYNE:                   

Well I can absolutely commit to being here for the long haul and the long time and to say that this is about an opportunity for someone to come into the role and to pursue it over an extended period of time. I have no intention of walking away from politics any time soon. I am a new member of the Cabinet and I think that should be a very important message to defence, that this is the commitment this Government gives. I have every intention of backing that up.

QUESTION:                           

Minister, minister do you think the upcoming White Paper should include the threat posed by climate change?

MARISE PAYNE:                   

I'm not going to go into the details of the White Paper. I haven't had a chance to be briefed on the submission process yet. But after that, I'm sure I will form a view and we will be able to talk further.

QUESTION:                           

Minister the Liberal Party is still hurting, can you give your reflections, the media and the public are concerned about it, hurt by it and have heard the strong comments from the prime minister, the former prime minister over the last 24 hours?

MARISE PAYNE:                   

Katherine (*), those of you who know me know that I have never engaged in public discussion or speculation about these sorts of issues in the Liberal Party over the years and I'm not about to start now. Thank you all very much.

*         *         End         *         *