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The main radar tower for the first of Australia’s three Air Warfare Destroyers, Hobart, has been successfully lifted into position. Minister for Defence Senator David Johnston confirmed progress on the Hobart was well advanced, with the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Alliance successfully lifting the Aegis tower onto the ship structure. “The Aegis tower is a complex block on the AWD because of specific requirements to ensure accuracy in build and the effectiveness of the SPY radar’s operation,” Senator Johnston said. 

Minister for Defence Senator David Johnston today announced that the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Project will be placed on the Projects of Concern (PoC) list. Senator Johnston said the AWD project will be added to the PoC list as part of the plan to address the increasing commercial, schedule and cost risks outlined by the independent review by Professor Don Winter and Dr John White. The Auditor General has also released a review into aspects of this program, which points to cost overruns at that time of over $300 million.

DEFENCE aircraft noise management activities will be subject to independent review by the Aircraft Noise Ombudsman under a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the office of the Ombudsman, the Department of Defence and Airservices Australia on 19 January 2015. Aircraft Noise Ombudsman Mr Ron Brent already oversees the handling and reporting of civil aircraft noise complaints, and under the new agreement will now also review the handing of all complaints or enquiries made to Defence concerning military aircraft noise.

Subjects: Australia’s involvement in fight against Daesh; Section 18C of the Anti-Discrimination Act MICHAEL BRISSENDEN:

The Turnbull Government has signed a long-term contract for the sustainment of ANZAC Class Frigates centred in Western Australia.

The Minister for Defence David Johnston this morning joined thousands of Western Australians for the Anzac Day dawn service at the State War Memorial in Kings Park. Senator Johnston said it was now 99 years since Australian and New Zealand troops landed at Gallipoli and in August this year the nation will mark the entry of Australia into the First World War and the beginning of the commemoration of the Anzac Centenary.

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, today paid tribute to all those who have served our nation and remembered the fallen at a number of Anzac Day activities across Sydney. Minister Payne attended the Dawn Service in Penrith before attending the Consular Wreath Laying Service at the Cenotaph in Martin Place and the Anzac Commemorative Service in Hyde Park. Minister Payne said this year marks the 100th anniversary of Australia’s involvement on the Western Front, in France and Belgium.

Today the Royal Australian Air Force will transport two Army S-70 Blackhawk helicopters to Vanuatu to boost the availability of tactical transport aircraft to outlying regions of the country. The Blackhawks can carry heavy loads underslung and can move stores and personnel inside its cabin. Presently around 78 ADF personnel are deployed in Vanuatu, and another 335 personnel embarked in HMAS Tobruk (including the ship’s crew of 177) are expected to arrive early next week.

The Royal Australian Air Force will be assisting the NSW Rural Fire Service this bushfire season, by accommodating two large water bombing aircraft at RAAF Base Richmond in Sydney. The first of the contracted aircraft, a C-130 Hercules Large Air Tanker nicknamed ‘Thor’, arrived at Richmond earlier this week, where it will be based until January 2016.

Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Marise Payne will visit Malaysia from 4 to 5 November 2015 to attend the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (the ADMM?Plus). Minister Payne said the ADMM-Plus was Australia’s top priority for our defence engagement with regional security architecture. The ADMM-Plus has a focus on practical military cooperation, including sharing expertise, standardising procedures and conducting field exercises. It will be the third meeting of ministers since the ADMM-Plus was established in 2010.

THE Australia-US alliance has never been stronger, Defence Minister David Johnston said today at the end of the 28th AUSMIN Ministerial Consultation held in Washington. After his first official visit to the United States as Defence Minister, where he and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop met with key senior US officials, Senator Johnston said he was proud to say our Alliance relationship is the strongest it has ever been.

Minister for Defence, Senator David Johnston has today met with his Japanese counterpart, Mr Akinori Eto, in Tokyo to discuss deepening defence and security cooperation between the two countries. This is the first time the Ministers have met since Minister Eto’s appointment as Japan’s Minister of Defense on 3 September 2014. This visit continues the high-level engagement on security and defence between Australia and Japan, building upon Prime Minister Abe’s successful visit to Australia over 7-10 July 2014.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering the relocation of a highly advanced US space surveillance telescope to the Harold E Holt Naval Communication Facility in Exmouth has been signed in Washington by Defence Minister David Johnston and his US counterpart, Chuck Hagel. “As a key outcome of the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations in Washington DC, US Secretary of Defense Hagel and I signed an MoU regarding the relocation of the US space surveillance telescope to the Harold E. Holt naval base,” said Senator Johnston.

Minister for Defence Kevin Andrews today announced that Australia has commenced delivering counter improvised explosive device equipment to the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) as part of Australia’s contribution to the Afghan National Army (ANA) Trust Fund. This project involves providing low cost, robust and lightweight force protection systems for the ANSF to counter improvised explosive devices, for use by dismounted personnel and for fitting to light vehicles.

The Australian Government has extended the Heron Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) deployment to Afghanistan providing high resolution Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) support until July 2014. The Heron RPA has been operating in the Middle East Area of Operations since January 2010, providing ISR support to missions in Uruzgan province and southern Afghanistan.

I welcome the decision of the Japanese Government to reform its defence policies to enable Japan to play a greater role in promoting peace and security in our region and internationally.

This afternoon I will depart for New Zealand to meet with my counterpart, the Hon Gerry Brownlee, Minister of Defence. Tomorrow, in Auckland, we will participate in the annual Australia-New Zealand Defence Ministers’ Meeting. This will be my fourth meeting with Minister Brownlee, reflecting a strong commitment to maintaining close defence ties with New Zealand. Australia and New Zealand share a long history of collaboration. A century after Australian and New Zealand troops fought side-by-side at Gallipoli, the Defence relationship between our two nation’s remains strong.

Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Marise Payne will meet with her New Zealand counterpart, Minister of Defence the Hon Gerry Brownlee MP, in Christchurch on Monday 14 December 2015. “This will be our first formal bilateral meeting and will provide a timely opportunity to discuss mutual defence and security issues,” Minister Payne said.

Joint Statement 11 September 2015

Defence cooperation between Australia, China and the United States will be highlighted during Exercise KOWARI 14, which commences in the Northern Territory today. Minister for Defence Senator David Johnston said the inaugural environmental survival training exercise between the three countries will be based out of Larrakeyah Barracks, Darwin, with field training and survival tests in remote inland and coastal areas.

The US has asked 40 or so other countries, including European countries, to consider expanded contributions to the coalition, following the attacks in Paris. Australia has considered the request from US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter in light of the substantial contributions we are already making to train Iraqi security forces and to the air campaign. The Government has advised Secretary Carter that our existing contributions will continue.

INSTITUTE FOR DEFENCE STUDIES AND ANALYSES ‘AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCE POLICY AND RELATIONSHIP WITH INDIA’ 2 September 2015 **CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY** Acknowledgements Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today. And thank you to the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) for hosting.

Australia’s first F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, known as AU-1, has made its inaugural flight, marking another significant milestone for the Australian F-35 program, Minister for Defence Senator David Johnston announced today. The milestone follows the official rollout of the Australia’s first two F-35 Lightning II aircraft on 24 July 2014 in Fort Worth, Texas. Senator Johnston said the first flight event was an important step towards acceptance of the aircraft.

MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS The Hon Julie Bishop MP MINISTER FOR DEFENCE Senator the Hon Marise Payne The Australian Government has authorised the first deployment of Australian Defence Force flights to transport personnel and humanitarian supplies to Fiji in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Winston. A C-17A Globemaster arrived in Fiji overnight with advance personnel and equipment.

Defence Minister, the Hon Kevin Andrews MP, and his New Zealand counterpart, the Hon Gerry Brownlee, met for the first time in Melbourne today. The meeting occurred as both nations prepare to commemorate a century since the landings at Gallipoli. “During the Centenary of Anzac, we mark a century of service and sacrifice, encompassing all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations in which Australia and New Zealand have been involved. The Centenary will be the most significant period of commemoration in our nation’s history,” Minister Andrews said.

It’s a great pleasure to be here today. Before I spell out the Government’s priorities in the defence portfolio today, I would like to start by thanking Graeme Dunk and his team for the support your group provides to business. To those of you from our industry, thank you. Thank you for what you do. For being a professional and committed workforce and for equipping our men and women of the Australian Defence Force with the capabilities they need.

***Check against delivery*** Thank you for inviting me to close this second Civil-Military Leaders’ Workshop. As leaders in our shared regional security, I particularly wish to express my thanks to the international delegates for their participation over the last four days. The workshops focus has been on readying ourselves for whatever challenges we may face in the future.

Today I officially opened the Adams Auditorium, marking the completion of a $98 million Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) redevelopment project. The ADFA redevelopment project includes a 1200-seat auditorium, indoor sports centre, Cadet’s Mess kitchen, and refurbishment of teaching facilities and accommodation. The project is designed to meet current and future academic and military training needs and provide modern, high quality and energy efficient facilities.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) continues to support disaster response efforts to help the people of Vanuatu following Cyclone Pam. Two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17A Globemaster III aircraft have transported an ADF Reconnaissance Team to Port Villa along with personnel from the Department of Foreign Affairs and non-government organisations under Operation PACIFIC ASSIST 2015.

The Australian Defence Force has deployed a 100-person Emergency Support Force (ESF) from the Townsville-based 3rd Brigade to assist recovery operations in the areas worst affected by Tropical Cyclone Marcia. The ESF will be operating in the Yeppoon, Rockhampton and Mt Morgan areas focusing their efforts on post-disaster clean-up operations at 16 schools and four aged-care facilities.