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The next step has been taken in the Federal Government’s efforts to combat suicide in veterans and serving members of the Australian Defence Force with the appointment of the interim National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel Darren Chester welcomed the announcement made by the Attorney-General Christian Porter today appointing Dr Bernadette Boss CSC to this important role.

Minister for Defence Personnel Dan Tehan today announced Ms Jane McAloon had been appointed National Chair of the Defence Reserves Support Council. The Defence Reserves Support Council provides an important link between the Australian Defence Force, employers, industry groups and other peak bodies in the wider community from which Defence Reservists are drawn. It promotes the benefits of Reserve service to the business community and develops partnerships with employers that facilitate Reservists’ contribution to Defence capability.

The Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP today announced the appointment of two new Board members to the Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC) Advisory Board. The new members are Mr Chris Williams, Managing Director of H.I. Fraser, and Ms Christine Zeitz, Managing Director of Leidos Australia. Both Mr Williams and Ms Zeitz have extensive experience working in the defence industry and a strong understanding of defence supply chains, and will make valuable contributions to the Advisory Board.

Joint media release Minister for Defence, The Hon Christopher Pyne MP Minister for Defence Industry, The Hon Steven Ciobo MP Mr Anthony Fraser, AO, CSC has been appointed as the head of the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) in the Department of Defence. He will lead CASG at a time of unprecedented investment in Australian Defence capability.

The keel of the first Arafura class offshore patrol vessel has officially been constructed on time and on budget. More than 50 tonnes of Australian steel has been assembled at Osborne Naval Shipyard, satisfying the contractual requirement for keel construction of the lead ship. The Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, said the milestone was a further demonstration of Australian industry’s ability to deliver on schedule.

  The Royal Australian Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessels will be named the Arafura class, with the first ship entering service in 2022 being named HMAS Arafura. Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, welcomed the announcement of the name Arafura, reflecting the strong connection between the Navy and the maritime waters it patrols. “Assigning a name to a warship is a significant milestone in the introduction of a new capability,” Minister Pyne said.

Joint Media Release Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSCMinister for Defence Industry The Australian Government has announced an extension to Airbus Australia Pacific’s through-life support (TLS) contract for the Australian Army’s Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH). The ARH Tiger, first introduced into service in 2004, has matured into a critical asset for the Australian Defence Force.

DAVID FAWCETT:                Welcome. I know a number of guests who have been recognised already so I won't run through the list except to say welcome. But particularly to Keith Payne and to other members who are or who have served in the defence of Australia, welcome and thank you.  

New friendships will be forged over the next three weeks as young Indigenous men and women participate in adventure training with the soldiers of Adelaide’s 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (7 RAR). Following a successful pilot program at Port Lincoln in 2018, this year’s Exercise Thura Yura is being held between 4-23 November and will involve kayaking, abseiling and a ‘story walk’ themed navigation challenge. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the activities aim to build enduring relationships.

TODAY RSL Queensland members who have been isolated due to coronavirus restrictions have received phone calls from Australian Army personnel to check on their welfare and swap stories. RSL Queensland have teamed up with Brisbane’s 7th Combat Brigade for the Virtual Veteran Visit initiative to identify a number of veterans who could benefit from a phone call from a currently serving member, and connect as they usually would on Anzac Day.

The Australian Defence Force’s MRH-90 Taipan helicopters will not return to flying operations before their planned withdrawal date of December 2024. The Government remains focused on the introduction into service of the new fleet of UH‑60M Black Hawk helicopters. The first three Black Hawks have arrived in Australia and commenced flying in September, with remaining Black Hawks continuing to be delivered.

Joint media release The Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP, Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Member for Hasluck The Hon Melissa Price MP, Minister for Defence Industry, Member for Durack   The remote East Pilbara community of Jigalong in Western Australia came together today for the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Programme (AACAP) 2019 Closing Ceremony.

The Army History Research Grants Scheme is a competitive grants program that contributes funding to projects that address military strategy and operations, military social history and military heritage.  Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today announced the successful applicants of the 2018-19 Army History Research Grants Scheme.   The 10 successful applicants will collectively receive $48,746 in government funding to support research into the history of the Australian Army.

Joint media release The Hon Darren Chester MP, Minister for Defence Personnel Australian Army special operations military working dog ‘Kuga’ has been posthumously awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal for conspicuous gallantry at a ceremony in Canberra today. The award was presented by British charity the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) during the ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.

GALLIPOLI Barracks in Brisbane was opened up for a good cause today, raising funds for Legacy through the Australian Army’s newest health and fitness initiative – Run Army. Minister for Defence Personnel and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester said over 800 Australian Army personnel, Defence workers and civilians gathered today to participate in the inaugural fun run for either the 5km or 10km course.

More than 85 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have been farewelled at RAAF Base Amberley today ahead of their upcoming deployment to the Middle East Region.   The ADF contingent, comprised of Army’s 17th Sustainment Brigade and other units across Australia, will deploy on a six-month rotation as part of the Force Support Element - 13. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said today’s parade is an opportunity to recognise the service of our ADF personnel as well as their families and friends who make their service possible. 

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today welcomed the first deliveries of a new generation of trucks and trailers to Army’s 7th Brigade at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane.   “These trucks, trailers and modules will revolutionise Defence’s logistics capability for decades to come and hundreds of jobs have been created as part of the $3.5 billion LAND 121 Phase 3B project,” said Minister Pyne.  

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A group of 31 Australian small-to-medium sized businesses has successfully trialled a prototype mobile tactical communications system for the Australian Army. Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the $35 million C4 EDGE initiative had demonstrated Australian industry’s ability to design, develop and manufacture Army’s radio equipment in Australia. “Critical defence capabilities, such as mobile tactical radio communication systems, will be designed and manufactured locally,” Minister Price said. “This will greatly improve supply chain resilience.”

Joint media release Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt  Minister for Defence Personnel & Minister for Veteran's Affairs, the Hon Darren Chester MP Senator for the Northern Territory, Senator Dr Sam McMahon  

United States Marines from the tenth Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) will soon begin arriving in Darwin. They are the first group arriving in the Northern Territory over the next five months. Each group to arrive will be between 200-500 personnel. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the rotation would build on the success of last year’s modified deployment.

Joint media release Senator Matt O'Sullivan, Senator for Western Australia The Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Arunta has returned to her homeport of Fleet Base West in Rockingham, Western Australia, following a successful five-month regional deployment, most recently supporting Operation ARGOS.

Upgraded facilities at ASC in Henderson, Western Australia will increase the efficiency of the maintenance and sustainment of Australia’s submarine fleet, increasing the number of days that submarines are available for use by the Royal Australian Navy. The $13 million upgrade enables the co-location of essential facilities, which will deliver a significant increase in the efficiency of submarine maintenance activities. A similar upgrade at ASC’s South Australian facilities led to a 30 per cent improvement in submarine maintenance efficiency.

The Assistant Minister for Defence, the Hon Andrew Hastie MP, has congratulated the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and the Australian National University (ANU) on the opening of the Co-Lab Honours grant, fusing cutting-edge research with capability.  The Co-Lab brings together leading ANU academics and some of ASD’s foremost analysts and technologists to collaborate on research projects and STEM career pathways for students - with Australia’s national security at its centre.

Joint media release:  Assistant Minister for Defence, Andrew Hastie MP   The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) has unveiled a new world-class cyber and foreign intelligence facility, as the agency prepares to mark 75 years defending Australia from global threats.

The Albanese Government has delivered a world-first initiative between the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and Microsoft which will further strengthen Australia’s cyber defences.  This initiative has connected ASD’s Cyber Threat Intelligence Sharing (CTIS) platform with Microsoft’s Sentinel platform, creating a cutting-edge global cyber threat intelligence system.

Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, will visit Singapore on 19-20 October 2018 to participate in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting‑Plus (the ADMM-Plus). Minister Pyne said he will join Defence Ministers from across South East Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific to discuss multilateral defence cooperation and regional security developments. “The ADMM-Plus has made strong progress towards fostering practical military cooperation and confidence building measures,” Minister Pyne said.

Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, attended the fifth Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting‑Plus (the ADMM-Plus) in Singapore, on 19-20 October. Minister Pyne discussed multilateral defence cooperation and regional security with his counterparts from across South East Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific. “Australia’s engagement with the ADMM-Plus is an important element of our support for ASEAN and the broader rules-based order in our region,” Minister Pyne said.

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, will travel to the from 23 –24 October 2017 for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus). Minister Payne will join defence Ministers from across South East Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific in Manila to discuss defence cooperation and regional security challenges. Minister Payne said the ADMM-Plus is the region’s preeminent regional security framework and was important for fostering practical military cooperation.

A new ASEAN-Australia Defence Postgraduate Scholarship Program is being established as one of the initiatives from the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit. Defence Minister, Senator the Hon Minister Payne, said the initiative will bring together emerging defence and security leaders from ASEAN countries and Australia. One representative from each ASEAN member state will be invited to join the program each year and the cohort of successful students will all attend the same course.