Minister for Defence - ABC Mornings Tasmania radio interview with Chris Wisbey

Topics: Combat rations, Tasmanian jobs, Pacific Patrol Boat tender, Budget

JOURNALIST:

Now Federal Defence Minister Marise Payne is in Tasmania to announce – oh, I might let the Minister actually tell you what she's announcing this morning. Good morning to you.

MINISTER PAYNE:

Good morning Chris.

JOURNALIST:         

And thank you for making time to talk to us on what is a very big morning. What is this announcement?

MINISTER PAYNE:           

Well, we are very pleased to announce a new piece of food processing technology, which we are going to invest in in Tasmania, which is all about producing the highest quality combat rations for our troops that we can. It's a microwave assisted thermal sterilisation process. And—

JOURNALIST:         

[Interrupts] And this isn't a little machine that sits in the corner either is it?

MINISTER PAYNE:           

No, no, it's not a small machine that sits in the corner, in fact it's two quite large machines; one which will be part of a R&D plant within our Defence Food and Nutrition Centre in Scottsdale and the other one will be in a production facility in Launceston. It really is great investment in new technology and shows what Australian business and Australian technology can do.

JOURNALIST:         

And how much of an investment is it?

MINISTER PAYNE:           

It's a $7.2 million investment in itself and then what I think is very important is its potential for export and for growth in the wider commercial market. So if we can market that, and that is a really important part of our Defence Industry Policy Statement announcement from the last fortnight or so, then the potential is very significant.

JOURNALIST:

Hell of a microwave at $3.6 million each, so I assume it's more than just the microwaves that are doing the work here. What does it actually produce if you understand what I mean? At the end of its- doing its job this machine, what comes out the other end?

MINISTER PAYNE:           

Sure, so it has a state-of-the-art rapid sterilisation technique and it creates shelf-stable, long lasting, ready-to-eat meals. So in the context of Defence rations it has the potential to make an enormous difference to the quality of the rations and food that we're able to provide our personnel. And then, as I said, there's also enormous potential for improving both the production and the quality of ready-made foods in the wider commercial market, and that's where I think the opportunity to export is fascinating.

JOURNALIST:

Yes indeed, and that must tap into home-grown Tassie produce as well you'd be thinking?

MINISTER PAYNE:           

Well exactly. The clean, green reputation that Tasmania's agricultural industries have makes it the most perfect location, and my colleague Andrew Nikolic I know has been campaigning relentlessly on this for I think it's probably about five years. So he's been very determined to see it come to fruition and we're here to make that announcement today.

JOURNALIST:

Is it likely to create jobs?

MINISTER PAYNE:

Well certainly in terms of the work that's being done in both the production facility in Launceston and in the R&D plant, yes. And what we hope we can do as I said is to make this a more widely commercialised process and that in and of itself is job creation.

JOURNALIST:

And of course there's always the potential that growers come into the market as well, into that scenario to provide produce specifically for that- to well, as you say, the commercial sector produce that could be a result?

MINISTER PAYNE:

Well it's a very big network and I know that the Tasmanian industry is already very good at tapping into those sorts of opportunities and working together. And if you can combine that with effective contribution from Defence in that process then I think we may have a very successful story.

JOURNALIST:

That's great news; $7.2 million for a new food processing technology here in Tassie. But I've got to ask you, we missed out on the Pacific Patrol Boats contract, despite obviously having companies in our State who could have delivered. Why did we miss out?

MINISTER PAYNE:

Well I think tender processes are always very complex. I know that our department has been talking to those who were involved in the tender as part of the take out process of that. But I wanted to send a really strong message while I'm here in Tasmania – I'll be meeting the Premier and Minister Groom tomorrow – a really strong message about engaging Tasmanian industry with the Department of Defence in its capability and acquisition processes. As part of what we've done in the last couple of weeks, as I indicated Chris, in launching our Defence Industry Policy Statement, we really want to reset that relationship and work very hard to produce outcomes regionally for the defence industry and Tasmania is key to that.

JOURNALIST:

Yes, and Navy seems to be getting a lot of that pie when that's sliced up. So many shipbuilders here we've spoken to are asking, ‘is there a contract on the horizon for Tasmania’?

MINISTER PAYNE:

Well there's a lot of tender processes to be undertaken and in fact you would already know that it's Tasmanian industries who are fitting out the accommodation sections of our Air Warfare Destroyers which are currently under construction in Adelaide in various states of construction. And that skill base which is already here would be, I think, well placed to engage once we've moved down the road for the Future Frigates and the Offshore Patrol Vessels.

JOURNALIST:

One of the biggest businesses in Tasmania Dale Elphinstone has put in for a $3 billion tender to build APCs – Armoured Personnel Carriers. Of course that would provide jobs, investment in the north-west which has seen a downturn in manufacturing. Where is that tender up to at the moment for the Armoured Personnel Carriers?

MINISTER PAYNE:

It's being evaluated Chris and you know that I can't talk about those sorts of tender processes but I know that Dale is a very strong advocate and a very strong advocate for Tasmania. He's a very impressive business person and I've met him previously.

JOURNALIST:

And a question from a listener. Has the Pacific Patrol Boat tender been awarded yet?

MINISTER PAYNE:

The final award hasn't been announced yet, no.

JOURNALIST:

[Laughs] Okay, this must be very frustrating for you.

MINISTER PAYNE:

[Laughs] It has its moments.

JOURNALIST:

As Defence Minister you obviously manage many, many big contracts. No doubt you're interested in the outcome of the Budget. Are you going to find out early this year?

MINISTER PAYNE:

Well I think for us Chris, when we launched our Defence White Paper two weeks ago in Canberra and with it the Integrated Investment Program, we basically indicated where the Defence budget would be progressing in the next two years, certainly over the next decade and then the decade beyond. So for us that was a very significant undertaking and I look forward to participating with the rest of the Government in the Budget process as we move towards that in May.

JOURNALIST:

Yes, what week in May? [Laughs]

MINISTER PAYNE:

[Laugh]

JOURNALIST:

Thank you very much for joining us this morning.

MINISTER PAYNE:

Thanks very much Chris.

JOURNALIST:

Marise Payne, the Federal Minister for Defence joining us on the program - and that great news for the $7.2 million to be spent on the new food processing technology in Tasmania in the north of the State. Our guest, the Honourable Marise Payne, announcing that just then, great news for Tasmania.