Doorstop, Counter-drone announcement and launch of Australian Drone Championships

Topics: AUKUS; Counter-drone capabilities; trade with China

Journalist: Minister, are you concerned about the Chinese Consular-General meeting with the Newcastle Lord Mayor in regards to the AUKUS submarine base potentially being in Newcastle? Was that appropriate? Did you know this meeting was happening?

Minister Conroy: Well, again, I think we should be very careful reflecting on individual reports that are out there. What we need to be conscious of is that AUKUS is on track. We are delivering on key milestones that are there and the Australian Government will always make decisions around the security of our infrastructure and establishments in every single case. 

Journalist: Minister, could you please reflect on, when you were talking about drone defence, what lessons you have learned from Ukraine’s massive attack on Russian airbases, and what lessons you’ve learned about how to protect Australian air bases in the Indo-Pacific context?

Minster Conroy: Well, Land 156 is all about that. It is about deploying counter-drone technology in a phased way and what I announced today was one of three phases. The two others are subject to tenders at the moment. But we’ve got great Australian companies that have really current, world-leading counter-drone technology and we’re committing to rolling that out to defend our key military infrastructure. That’s what we’re doing right now, that’s what serious Australian Governments do. We’ve allocated over $10 billion for drone and counter-drone technology and autonomous systems and, really importantly, we’re doing in a sensible, staged way, but we’re moving at speed. We had our first armed drone being delivered into service last year and we’re deploying the counter-drone technology right now. We’re doing it in a rolling way, where we don’t stop, this technology doesn’t stop and we’ll see more and more as part of that $10 billion investment. 

Journalist: Scott Morrison’s comments [inaudible]  overnight warning Australians of the risk of the security threat that China poses, having played into China’s hands by relaxing some of those trade barriers? 

Minister Conroy: Well, I’m not sure which trade barriers he’s referring to. What we’ve committed to is stabilising the relationship in China and restoring $20 billion worth of trade, which is all about jobs for Australians, seizing more economic opportunities, but having an open dialogue with all our international partners. We haven’t changed our position, as the PM has said, we’ll cooperate where we can and disagree where we must, and we’re being very clear on the need for China to avoid repeating the same military interactions they’ve perpetuated over the past few years. Thank you.

Ends