Minister for Defence - Doorstop interview at Submarine Institute of Australia Conference, Adelaide

MINISTER PAYNE:

It's fabulous to have the chance to make a few comments here at the Submarine Institute of Australia conference on what is a very, very important decision for Australia, for the ADF, and the Royal Australian Navy. I make these comments at a very serious time in the international community. Obviously a very serious time in the international community in terms of security and matters terrorist-related. And I indicated to His Excellency the ambassador of France, Christophe Lecourtier, who is here today, that on behalf of the Government it was my first opportunity to do this, convey our very, very sincere sympathies and condolences on the horrific and tragic events in Paris recently. I know the Prime Minister has also extended those wishes to both Mr Erdogan in Turkey and to the Lebanese Government. These are not isolated events, they are occurring all too often, and matters which the Australian Government takes very seriously. That said, I am sure you have questions for us, so please go ahead.

JOURNALIST:

Is it- would it- is it fair to assume now that 12 submarines or eight submarines - the South Australian Government and others are pushing very hard for 12 - what is your preference at the moment?

MINISTER PAYNE:

I am not going to speculate on numbers today. So that is going to be part of the white paper process, as I said clearly in relation to both the white paper, the integrated investment program, and the defence industry policy statement. Those matters are under consideration by Government and, as I said, will be released in early 2016.

JOURNALIST:

But logic would tell you 12?

MINISTER PAYNE:

I’m not going to speculate.

JOURNALIST:

Why has the white paper been delayed?

MINISTER PAYNE:

As I said quite clearly in my speech, and I have said in a number of public comments I have made, in estimates and in other interviews, I think it is important for a Prime Minister and for a Government to have the time to consider these matters. We have a new Defence Minister in myself, other new members of the National Security Committee, and a new Prime Minister. And we are taking the appropriate time, the time that is needed to do that properly.

JOURNALIST:

Does it give you time to adjust, potentially, the white paper, because you are going to receive the three bids by the end of November, is there time to alter the white paper in regards to receiving those bids?

MINISTER PAYNE:

I’m not going to comment on the processes of the deliberation around the white paper.

JOURNALIST:

Minister President Obama has said overnight that the strategy against ISIL is working but it will take some time. Is it working, and can we afford that time?

MINISTER PAYNE:

I think President Obama and other leaders who are in … have been at the G20 and elsewhere have made some very considered comments. We need to approach the fight against ISIL in a number of ways. And I think that is what the President was acknowledging. We know that we have military activity underway in self-defence of Iraq and in Syria. Australia is the second largest contributor to that right now, after the United States. We know that we are all working within our own nations to address the threats presented by extremists, and the threats of terrorism. And these are matters that take some time. There is no doubt about that. And what Paris says to us, and what events in other cities in the Middle East and Europe says to us, is that we cannot take a moment of breath on this. We must keep our focus, keep our attention, and in that regard I agree with the President, yes.

JOURNALIST:

Why not follow the approach that former Prime Minister Abbott has suggested and send in special forces to conduct offensive operations. Wouldn't that speed things up?

MINISTER PAYNE:

Australia is not engaged in this process by ourselves; we are part of an international coalition. And we will work with our partners to determine what is the best response from day to day, from week to week. Those discussions will obviously develop consequent on events in France. But most importantly, our contribution continues to be a very strong one, a very significant one and one which I know the Iraqi Government is very grateful for, and we will continue to work with our partners in doing that.

JOURNALIST:

Minister you mentioned …

MINISTER PAYNE:

Sorry?

JOURNALIST:

…you mentioned the combat systems for the future submarine and some discussions you have already had. Will these be new jobs in South Australia, or using the additional work force that is here?

MINISTER PAYNE:

One would imagine it will be a combination of both.

JOURNALIST:

Minister, has any decision been made about sending the Australian frigate to join the French-led task force in the gulf?

MINISTER PAYNE:

I will make initial comments on that and then ask the Chief to add if he wishes. This is a request that came some small time ago from the French – so let me make it clear, not over the weekend so some small time ago – which we have been considering in light of our current commitments in the gulf, which are existing commitments, and those elsewhere. The Government is still considering that.  I look forward to speaking about it further with the Prime Minister when he returns, he’s obviously had a chance to meet with the Foreign Minister Fabius, and to speak to President Hollande. So I’m sure we will consider those issues further, and I will ask the Chief of Navy to perhaps add to that if you wish?

VICE ADMIRAL TIM BARRETT:

As you would be well aware, we already have a commitment to the Middle East. We're on our sixtieth rotation of frigates into the area at the moment. During the time that we’ve been up there, we have on many occasions operated with allies and partners, including the French, in the past. We have had a request from the French to continue. As the Minister said, that is not a recent- that is not just over the weekend or since events over the weekend. It's being considered though by Defence, with advice being provided to Government at the moment.

JOURNALIST:

And would events in Paris actually change your thinking along the lines of that request?

MINISTER PAYNE:

They would feed into our thinking, certainly, but I wouldn’t suggest they would change our thinking. But they will be a factor in the discussions the Prime Minister has had, and that I will have with the Prime Minister.

JOURNALIST:

Do we have the capacity to escalate to any point needed or requested straight away?

MINISTER PAYNE:

I take advice from senior commanders of the ADF on that, and they’re matters I'll be discussing with the CDF.

JOURNALIST:

Mr Barrett, would the Navy be in a position to escalate immediately?

VICE ADMIRAL TIM BARRETT:

As I’ve said [indistinct] we've got ships that are- or a ship that’s currently in the gulf at the moment; but the decision as to who it participates with will be a Government decision based on all those factors the Minister has mentioned.

JOURNALIST:

Minister, talks between Moscow and Washington recently on Syria are being regarded as progress in some quarters. How hopeful are you that that is actually a breakthrough given the intractability of the differences in the past?

MINISTER PAYNE:

I saw some reporting of those, and I know that Foreign Minister Bishop has made comment in relation to that. Any constructive discussions are going to be useful in that regard. We are working together. The United States and us are working together. We have the Russians also present in the fight against ISIL in Syria in particular. So the more cooperation, the more communication, the better.

JOURNALIST:

Mr Barrett, given what is very contemporary problems that Australia is facing, and the rest of the world is facing, would you say then that the obvious choice would be for 12 submarines for the Navy rather than eight?

VICE ADMIRAL TIM BARRETT:

I think the Minister made it very clear that that's been part of the consideration of the white paper, and that will be announced early next year.

JOURNALIST:

You don't have a preference?

JOURANLIST:

What’s your preference [indistinct]?

VICE ADMIRAL TIM BARRETT:

I am saying that the deliberation, the advice provided by the department, will be reflected in the white paper.

JOURNALIST:

Minister, your Government has previously committed to an $89 billion investment in submarines and surface ships, do you stand by that number and can you break it down into, I guess, [indistinct]?

MINISTER PAYNE:

So the commitment made here in August was in relation to offshore patrol vessels, in relation to future frigates, and in relation to submarines. I'll happily provide you with a breakdown of those numbers and assist you with that. But I think that what I've indicated today, and what the Chief of Navy has indicated, is this is very much a continuous build approach. So about engaging with Australian industry, about the Defence Force engaging with Australian industry to make sure that we are not leaving the sorts of gaps that were left in naval ship building in this country before. And I can assure you that the focus of that will be on engagement with Australian industries.

JOURNALIST:

Minister have you had any discussions with the Prime Minister yet about the white paper? Any detailed sit-down like he told Estimates the other day? And can you sort of say are there any areas that you particularly wanted to change?

MINISTER PAYNE:

I don't think I'm going to tell you about my discussions with the Prime Minister, but that was a very good go.

JOURNALIST:

Since the change in Prime Minister the language seems to be a lot more positive in terms of potentially an Australian build. Is that the correct reading of the situation? Is an offshore build the least likely option now?

MINISTER PAYNE:

So you’ll know, and I've said very clearly as others have, that the competitive evaluation process asks for three variations on the submissions to be made. They're still what’s coming back to Government, and they’re still what Government will evaluate.

JOURNALIST:

So you won't rule out an overseas build?

MINISTER PAYNE:

I’m not going to second-guess the competitive evaluation process of this complex project.

JOURNALIST:

Minister, the Grand Mufti has come in for some criticism from some of your colleagues with his statement in response to Paris, can you give us your thoughts on that?

MINISTER PAYNE:

I don't have a particular view on the statements of the Grand Mufti. I do know though that the actions of those in Paris must be, should be condemned with the utmost rigour. That is the position I take, it’s the position the Government takes.

JOURNALIST:

Just on [indistinct] again, when is a decision expected on a successful tenderer? Has that now been pushed out considering the white paper will be delivered later than expected?

MINISTER PAYNE:

I’m not sure if you were in the room for my speech, but what I actually said in my speech was that the submissions would be received at the end of this month, and that quite detailed consideration would go into the process of evaluating those. That is a separate process from that of the white paper.

JOURNALIST:

We were told a decision on the submarines though was expected in the first quarter of next year, is that still the plan?

MINISTER PAYNE:

As I said, we won't be rushed. The decision will be made when we have the appropriate information. Thank you all very much for today, thank you all very much for coming. Thank you Chief.