Radio Interview, ABC North Queensland

SUBJECTS: ADF training incident in Townsville

ADAM STEPHEN. HOST: Richard Marles is the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Defence and today he extended his condolences to the garrison city, confirming that the M113 armoured personnel carrier that was involved in the incident, as a result of the accident and the investigations that will take place, they've made the decision to ground the fleet for the foreseeable.

RICHARD MARLES, ACTING PRIME MINISTER: Well this is a tragedy and it is a moment where, you know, I'm very aware of the tight knit community which the Defence Force is. I'm really aware of how all of this person's comrades will be feeling in this moment and of course, this person's family. It is an absolute tragedy. But it is also a reminder that what we ask our service personnel to do in training carries risk, that this is a dangerous job and you need to prepare to be able to operate the equipment which is obviously designed to be in places of harm. And so there is a risk that goes with the everyday operations that our service personnel engage with. But what they do in terms of their training and being ready is actually of itself so important for the security of the nation. It is of itself a form of deterrence. And so this is a tragic day and this person's sacrifice is very much on behalf of our country.

STEPHEN: Do you, as Defence Minister, have you been briefed on what exactly happened at the field training area, Mr Marles?

MARLES: Look, I've been briefed on as much as we know, and some of that I can speak about, some of that I can't. And to be frank, you know, this has happened very recently and so there's a lot more to know. Like there'll be a series of investigations now which will happen in respect of what has occurred. And so clearly some of the answers that will be out there we won't know for a long time. But I have been briefed to the extent that people understand what's happened, on what occurred.

STEPHEN: Do we know whether the person who lost their life, were they the driver of the bushmaster that was involved in the rollover?

MARLES: So, firstly, not a bushmaster; it's an M113. It's an infantry fighting vehicle, so it's a different platform. I can't go into exactly the position the person held, although I know it, because it's– without ultimately identifying the person. So, forgive me for not answering that question. But we understand the vehicle, the crew that were involved in the accident, there were some others, they have attended hospital and have been discharged from hospital. And so in that sense, you know, those injuries have been taken care of. But, you know, there is this one fatality which is a tragedy.

STEPHEN: The commander of 3rd Brigade, Brigadier Ben McClellan, has said the soldier had served for seven years and was very much a character and much loved within 3rd Brigade. How do you expect this fatal incident will actually ripple out and impact not only those that directly worked with this soldier, but also the wider Defence community?

MARLES: Well, I think in terms of those who serve with this soldier, Defence is a really tight knit community, as you say. And, you know, one of the things that really strikes me about the Defence Force as I've engaged with it now over the better part of a decade, is just the sense of team and camaraderie which exists. It is, to be frank, it's the purest expression of team that I've ever witnessed in any context. And so people look out for each other. It is very tight knit and it means that in a moment such as this, that the loss of this soldier's life will be felt acutely across those close to him. But in fact, right across 3^rd Bridgade and the Defence community. More broadly, Townsville is one of our great garrison cities. Defence is a huge part of the Townsville story. And so I know that this is an incident and a loss that will be felt right across Townsville. People know what our servicemen and women do. They particularly know that in Townsville. They know the contribution they make. They know the risks that they take. And so this, I have no doubt, will be felt right across the Townsville community as well.

STEPHEN: This is a site that the battalion are very familiar with — the Harvey Range Field Training Area. Will the investigation be looking at whether the armoured vehicle or vehicles involved are appropriate for that site?

MARLES: Well, firstly, I should say that in terms of the M113s, our fleet of those infantry fighting vehicles has been grounded and will be until we have a better understanding of what’s happened here. That’s the prudent step to take. It is, in fact, a fleet that is being replaced over time, but that’s happening right now with the construction of the Redback vehicles that are being built by Hanwha. And so, actually, a new vehicle is being brought into service, and part of the training course that these soldiers were on is getting themselves ready to ultimately take command or take over the running of the Redbacks when they come into service. But the M113s will still be in operation for some period of time — they do perform an important function within the Army on this day. But as I say, right now, in this immediate moment, the fleet of M113s has been grounded. I guess, also, to answer your question, the whole incident will be investigated. So, every question that people have — that we would want to have — about what occurred, the appropriateness of vehicles, and the appropriateness of training, all of that will get thoroughly investigated through the process of actually multiple investigations that will now happen as a result of this.

STEPHEN: And Richard Marles, as Minister for Defence, will you be travelling to Townsville to meet with 3rd Brigade?

MARLES: Look, in due course I will. Townsville is part of the world that I’m a frequent visitor to. Right now, we will let all the processes in this moment play out. Fundamentally, Army and Defence are wrapping their arms around this soldier’s unit, those immediately close to him, but also, of course, his family. And that process will play out as it should. But, you know, I will be very keen to get to Townsville when it’s appropriate for me to be there.

STEPHEN: That was the Minister for Defence and Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles. And if you need help, you can call the Veteran and Family Counselling Service, Open Arms, on 1800 011 046. Open Arms is available via the phone number 1800 011 046.

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