Press conference at Civmec, Henderson

• Topics: Submarine Rescue System, Full Cycle Docking, IGADF Inquiry, border closures in WA

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MINISTER REYNOLDS:

It’s fantastic to be back here at Henderson and also at Civmec for another sod turning. The last sod turning was for this little tiny shed behind us here today. But first, Aunty Robin thank you for that wonderful welcome to country, and I too pay my respects to the traditional custodians, the Wadjuk people of the Noongar nation of which we are building this magnificent facility here.

I welcome, and it’s good to see my state colleagues, Paul Papalia and Fran Logan, and also Jim Fitzgerald and Pat Talon from Civmec.

This is a very exciting new development for the Navy. Today marks the beginning of an exciting new naval project for our submariners. It is the construction of a $12.5 million facility here for submarine rescue.

It is to be built to house the new submarine rescue system, which the Federal Government is investing $279 million in, which will be up to $600 million over the life of this project, which will be here for 25 years.

I would sincerely like to thank the State Government and Minister Papalia for the donation of the land, on which this new facility will be built. This new naval Submarine Rescue System will be truly world leading.

It will be one of four systems globally that will be both rapidly deployable by air and by sea, and our magnificent submariners who are based right here at Garden island, HMAS Stirling, deserve absolutely nothing less. 

The construction phase will involve 100 West Australian workers and 55 ongoing jobs. It is due for completion in February next year.

The Henderson precinct is one of our nation’s two national shipbuilding centres and under the Morrison Government’s $90 billion Naval Shipbuilding Plan, 40 of 63 new naval vessels we have commissioned for build in Australia will be built right here in Henderson.

That’s 40 of 63 new naval vessels, and we can see right behind us the new Civmec shed which is a unique facility in the world, where the production of the third offshore patrol vessel the Government has commissioned is under construction.

On top of this investment, the Federal Government has invested $1.5 billion towards new infrastructure builds here at Henderson and also at Garden Island. I’m very conscious that this investment is particularly important during these difficult times for our nation.

Garden Island is home to our submariners and to the magnificent capability that is our Collins class fleet, who are serving our nation so well, and our submariners deserve nothing less than the best possible submarine rescue capability, in recognition and in support of the important work that they do for our nation.

So Pat, Jim, Paul and Fran, this is truly a wonderful day and thank you all for coming here today to celebrate this new milestone in the shipbuilding plan.

JOURNALIST:

The announcement of full cycle docking – that’s the one everyone has been waiting for. What can you tell us about it?

MINISTER REYNOLDS:

The Government is still considering the location for full cycle docking and the decision will be made when it is the right time to do so, in the best interest of the Navy.

JOURNALIST:

Has it been delayed because of COVID-19?

MINISTER REYNOLDS:

No, it hasn’t. The Government is still considering full cycle docking and other naval capability considerations, so we will make the decision when it is the right time for the naval capability to be announced.

JOURNALIST:

Is it weeks? Months? Years?

MINISTER REYNOLDS:

As soon as we are ready to make the announcement we will make the announcement.

JOURNALIST:

Does the cost of shifting it in these tougher economic times make it a harder choice?

MINISTER REYNOLDS:

Not at all, I’ve always said and the Prime Minister has always said that the full cycle docking decision for the future will be made in the national interest. And can I also confirm that despite these challenging economic times, the defence budget has not been impacted and we are proceeding with the full naval shipbuilding plan, including the construction of the attack class submarines and also the plans for full cycle docking.

JOURNALIST:

So is what’s happening here today a bit of a stepping stone though towards Western Australia being that centre for that (full cycle docking)?

MINISTER REYNOLDS:

Well, the Federal Government announced several years ago that Henderson along with Osbourne in South Australia, they are the two naval ship building centres in Australia. The Federal Government has invested significantly in both locations. As I said, 40 of the 63 new vessels that we have commissioned to build in Australia, 40 of those are being constructed here at Henderson and in Western Australia, so we are supporting and developing both locations.

JOURNALIST:

WA had wanted the work from the 2024 cycle, is that still realistic?

MINISTER REYNOLDS:

As I said, the decision will be made when we are in a position to make the right capability decision.

JOURNALIST:

You said repeatedly last year that a decision would be made by Christmas, obviously it hasn’t been made and we’re in June now, what’s happened?

MINISTER REYNOLDS:

Again, we have a number of considerations, factors to take into consideration for Navy, and for future Navy capability and sustainment, and we will make the decision when it is the right time to do so.

JOURNALIST:

How political is it though? I mean you’re a Western Australian based Minister – how hard is it for you to wear that hat as well?

MINISTER REYNOLDS:

It’s actually not hard at all. I’m a very proud West Australian Senator and as you would know I’ve been a very strong supporter of our ship building industry here in Western Australia, but as the Minister for Defence I have one consideration only, and that is ensuring we fully deliver the best possible naval capability today and into the future for the Navy. So in that sense, it is a very easy decision.

JOURNALIST:

Those states and those workforces need an answer sooner rather than later don’t they?

MINISTER REYNOLDS:

Well both states, and in fact we also have five naval maintenance facilities around our nation, and again, we will make the decision solely based on what is in the best interest of our Navy.

JOURNALIST:

There’s a bit of a sort of a row over when Western Australia should lift its border – do you have a view on that in relation to the pandemic?

MINISTER REYNOLDS:

That is solely a matter for the West Australian State Government. The Prime Minister is on the record indicating that he is keen for domestic borders to be open again for the economic development and growth in these difficult times, but it is a decision for all state and territory governments.

 JOURNALIST:

Are you in receipt of the ADF Inspector General’s report on alleged war crimes committed by special forces?

MINISTER REYNOLDS:

No I’m not. This has been a very long and a very challenging inquiry for the Inspector General. My understanding and my latest advice from the Chief of the Defence Force is that the inquiry is close to wrapping up and the CDF is expecting the report in the next few months from the Inspector General.

JOURNALIST:

Will you ever receive that report?

MINISTER REYNOLDS:

I will receive the report at the same time as the Chief of Defence Force, but it is his report to respond to in the first instance. I will be closely working with the CDF on behalf of the Government to review the recommendations and what actions are required from there.

JOURNALIST:

Have you got a sense of how damaging it’s been for SAS at the length of this – how it’s dragged on?

MINISTER REYNOLDS:

It has been a very long and a very challenging inquiry and it’s been difficult for all of those involved. It has taken some time, given the magnitude and also the nature of the inquiries. The Inspector General has had all required resources and the timing is certainly up to him.

JOURNALIST:

Will that report ever be publicly released? 

MINISTER REYNOLDS:

My understanding is that a segment of the report, the executive summary will be made public in due course.

 JOURNALIST:

Are you considering any restructuring of the ADF’s Special Forces in light of this investigation?

MINISTER REYNOLDS:

It is far too early to make any predictions about what the CDF or what the Government may do. The first thing is for the Inspector General to deliver his report, and for the CDF and for Government to carefully review what is in that. But again, in the first instance, it will be delivered to the CDF to review to determine what actions he takes, and of course what may be referred further to the AFP and to the DPP.

JOURNALIST:

Just on full cycle docking, has WA made a strong case for the work?

MINISTER REYNOLDS:

Both states, Western Australia and South Australia, I think it’s safe to say, have been very strong in their advocacy for their own states. And of course, we have been listening very closely to that advocacy but ultimately this is a decision that I must make and the Government must make in the best interest of the Navy. 

END