1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 1: The Federal Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy is in Darwin 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: today to speak at the Northern Australia Defense Summit. The 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 1: Federal Government saying that Territorians are key beneficiaries of the 4 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four Integrated Investment Program, which is allocated fourteen 5 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:20,919 Speaker 1: to eighteen billion dollars over the next decade to bolster 6 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: Australia's northern bases and contribute to enhanced collective security of 7 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: the Indo Pacific. So what does that all mean? Wellt 8 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:32,599 Speaker 1: joining me on the line is the Minister Pat Conroy. 9 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:36,239 Speaker 1: Good morning to you, morning, Katie. Thanks so much for 10 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: your time this morning. Now, Minister, we know the Federal 11 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 1: government well you guys saying that you're investing in accelerated 12 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: upgrades at our doubaf based Tindal, including airfield improvements to 13 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 1: enable enhanced every fueling operations for transport aircraft. Why is 14 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: this needed? 15 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 2: Well, we face the greatest strategic uncertainty in our regency 16 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 2: world too, and we've also seen the biggest arms build 17 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 2: up in the region at the same time, and it's 18 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 2: vital that the Federal government protects the Australian people in 19 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 2: our interests and that's why we're making this investment fourteen 20 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 2: to eighteen billion dollars of investment in our northern bases 21 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 2: is critical to strengthening the Australian descent force and deterring 22 00:01:20,319 --> 00:01:23,400 Speaker 2: any potential aggression, and it means more jobs and more 23 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 2: income flowing through into the Northern Territory. 24 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: I guess we here in the Northern Territory probably do 25 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 1: have a better understanding than a lot because of our 26 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 1: rich history, Darwin being bombed all of those years ago. 27 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: Is this investment enough for the NTA? 28 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:44,479 Speaker 2: Well, I think it's very significant. As I said, fourteen 29 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 2: to eighteen billion dollars is roughly seven to eight times 30 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 2: what the last government had planned for the same period 31 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 2: of time, so it's very significant. We've already got five 32 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 2: thousand Territorians working in the defense industry. You punch well 33 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 2: above your weight percentage of the population, and that will 34 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 2: grow as we push more money into support this Astralian 35 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 2: Defense force. And we're moving incredibly quickly. For example, we're 36 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 2: transforming the first brigade into one focused on It was 37 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,519 Speaker 2: called latoral maneuver, which means amphibious movement in the sea 38 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:21,079 Speaker 2: land intersection, and we're bringing forward a gigantic landing craft 39 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:25,080 Speaker 2: from the mid twenty thirties, so they'll start being entering 40 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 2: service in twenty twenty eight. So we're moving at speed 41 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 2: and we're increasing of the SENSE budget to help protect 42 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:31,519 Speaker 2: Australian people. 43 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 1: Minister, it seems like a massive amount of money, but 44 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 1: it's for all of Northern Australia. How much of it's 45 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: actually going to be for the Northern Territory, All. 46 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 2: The vast majority of it will be for the Northern Territory. Yes, 47 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:50,359 Speaker 2: we've got the SENSE establishments in Northwest Western Australia and 48 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 2: Northern Queens landing place flocked Townsville, but there's really critical 49 00:02:55,560 --> 00:03:00,080 Speaker 2: infrastructure in the MT. So for example, there's one one 50 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 2: point six billion dollars going to Raft Base Tindle, the 51 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:06,360 Speaker 2: seven hundred and fifty million dollars going to the US 52 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:11,080 Speaker 2: Force Posture Northern Territory Training Ranges, six hundred million dollars 53 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 2: to the Larache of Defense Precinct, three hundred and ninety 54 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 2: million dollars to the Robertson Barracks Improvements program. They're just 55 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 2: four examples of the massive investment we're making an MPT. Now, 56 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 2: as I said, you've got five thousand people working in 57 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:26,799 Speaker 2: the defense industry, and it's about seven and a half 58 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 2: percent of your gross state product growth territory product, so 59 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 2: it's a really important contributor to your economy and that's 60 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 2: a great thing. 61 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: Are we expecting those defense numbers in the Northern Territory 62 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: to increase because I know that you said, you know 63 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 1: the large amount of that investment is coming here to 64 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory rather than sort of the rest of 65 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 1: Northern Australia. But it does seem as though those defense 66 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: numbers in the likes of Townsville are increasing. Are they 67 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 1: going to increase here in the NT. 68 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:57,680 Speaker 2: Yes, they will, and we're projecting about a growth of 69 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 2: about a thousand personnel, including over one hundred full time 70 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 2: ADF personnel, but the defense workforce will grow by another 71 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 2: thousand people over the next few years. So that's a 72 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 2: very significant increase and it reflects the strategic position of 73 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory, particularly Darwin and Catherine for Australia. You 74 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,039 Speaker 2: are vital to sense of our nation and we're putting 75 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:25,479 Speaker 2: in the resources to support that. 76 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:28,919 Speaker 1: You spoke just a moment ago as well about the Marines. 77 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:33,080 Speaker 1: Are we expecting the marine rotational numbers to increase in 78 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:36,479 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory over the coming years as well. 79 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:39,839 Speaker 2: I'm not sure whether there's plans of increasing it even further, 80 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 2: but it has significantly increased since the force rotation began 81 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:49,840 Speaker 2: over a decade ago. The numbers have gone up very significantly. 82 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 2: They're increasing the amount of capability they're coming in and 83 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 2: they're putting in place resources and investment in training ranges. 84 00:04:57,160 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 2: So I'm not clear whether they intend to expand it 85 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 2: even further. 86 00:05:00,640 --> 00:05:03,479 Speaker 1: When we talk about, you know, the strategic importance of 87 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory, particularly Darwin, when we talk about our 88 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:10,920 Speaker 1: close proximity to Asia, when we look at our history 89 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:13,720 Speaker 1: and the fact that we were bombed all those years ago, 90 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,280 Speaker 1: I mean, does this investment and does this additional spend 91 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 1: into the Northern Territory put us at a greater risk? 92 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 2: Not Kati. In fact, it's the opposite. It reduces the 93 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:27,240 Speaker 2: risk and it deters aggression. I get asked this question 94 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 2: quite often, and the answer is that the best way 95 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:34,720 Speaker 2: of deterring aggression is to put doubt in Anniversary's mind. 96 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 2: Is Anniversary thinks that Australia can strike back if they 97 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 2: attempt to coerce us. That reduces the chance of war. 98 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 2: And that's why we're making this investment. And that's why 99 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 2: the alven Ezi Labor Government's increasing in the sense budget 100 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 2: fifty billion dollars over the next ten years. Is because 101 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 2: the best way of dealing with that uncertainty is a 102 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 2: stronger Australian defense For us. You just need to look 103 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:59,359 Speaker 2: at what occurred in the nineteen thirties where the Western 104 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:03,680 Speaker 2: democracy refused to invest in their militaries. That didn't reduce 105 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:07,160 Speaker 2: the chances of conflict, That increased the chances of conflict 106 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:09,840 Speaker 2: by projecting weakness. And as I said at the start 107 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 2: of the interview, the most important job of the fedral 108 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 2: government is to protect the Australian people and our interests 109 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: and that's why we're making these investments. 110 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: If you have just joined us, we are speaking to 111 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 1: the Federal Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy. You are in 112 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 1: Darwin today, of course, Minister, to speak at the Northern 113 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:32,359 Speaker 1: Australia Defense Summit. What are you going to tell the audience, Well, I'll. 114 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:34,479 Speaker 2: Be telling them that the future is bright for the 115 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 2: workforce and industry. Here a thousand companies already work in 116 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 2: the industry up here, five thousand workers. And there's some 117 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 2: great advocates for the NT in Parliament, particularly Solomon MP 118 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 2: Luke Gosling's obviously a former army officer, and I'll be 119 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 2: saying that we need you more, We need Northern Territory. 120 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:58,679 Speaker 2: We need Darwin to ramp up to support the ADF 121 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 2: even further, we need you to invest in the workforce 122 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 2: that can do that, and we'll support that because the 123 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 2: defense of nation depends upon what you can do in 124 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory. So it's exciting times. People shouldn't be 125 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 2: too worried, but they're exciting times in terms of the 126 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:17,000 Speaker 2: amount of economic activity that's going to be coming into Darwin. 127 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 2: And that's great for the local economy and it's great 128 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 2: for kids thinking about picking up a trade or doing 129 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 2: an engineering degree at UNIS as they can have a 130 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 2: bright future serving the Australian defense industry. 131 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 1: And what kind of percentages are we talking about in 132 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: terms of local contractors being involved in this work. 133 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 2: It's very high. People seem to think that a lot 134 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 2: of the work is going into state, but that's just 135 00:07:40,560 --> 00:07:43,880 Speaker 2: not the case. Let me give you an example. There's 136 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 2: work going on right now at raft based Kindle and 137 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 2: it's managed by land Leaf. Ninety three percent of the 138 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:54,120 Speaker 2: work packages have flown through the local MPT company, so 139 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 2: that's nine hundred and seventy nine million dollars have flown 140 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 2: through to local Northern Territory company. Is twelve percent of 141 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 2: the workforce working at rath Tindal is Indigenous and about 142 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 2: one hundred and sixty three million dollars on that project 143 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 2: have flown through to Indigenous own companies. So this is 144 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 2: huge amounts of work going to MT companies and NT 145 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 2: workers and we expect that to grow significantly over the 146 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 2: next few years. 147 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: Minister just finally, a pretty concerning situation over the weekend 148 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: with China's aggression towards an Australian Navy helicopter over the 149 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 1: weekend making headlines right around the nation after a fighter 150 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 1: jet from the People's Liberation Army Air Force dropped flares 151 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:39,800 Speaker 1: in the immediate flight path of an Australian Defense for 152 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: Seahawk conducting routine operations of HMAS Hobart and the Yellow 153 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: Sea on Saturday night. How concerning is this situation for Australia. 154 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 2: Well, it is concerning. The practice by the Chinese Air 155 00:08:55,520 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 2: Force was unsafe and unprofessional, and we've made strong remonstrations 156 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 2: of that to the Chinese government. I should stress that 157 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 2: Hahmus Hobart and the helicopter were operating in international waters 158 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 2: in the LSC close to South Korea. They are part 159 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 2: of a UN operation to enforce sanctions against the oppressive 160 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 2: regime in North Korea. They are doing good work, not 161 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 2: just for Australia but for the world, and for those 162 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 2: personality is subjects of unsafe and upprofessional practices by the 163 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 2: People's Liberation Army Air Force is unacceptable and we've made 164 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:35,199 Speaker 2: that point to China and we'll keep making that point. 165 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 2: Every military around the world has an application to operate 166 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:41,120 Speaker 2: in a safe and professional manner, and this was not 167 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:42,320 Speaker 2: the case in this incident. 168 00:09:42,640 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 1: And so what steps had been taken by the federal 169 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 1: government really to condemn these actions to China. 170 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:53,440 Speaker 2: Well, we've conveyed our strong concern to the Chinese government, 171 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:57,200 Speaker 2: both in Australia and in China itself, and we'll keep 172 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 2: doing that. There are established lines of communication between governments 173 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:03,760 Speaker 2: from between militaries, and we've used that and we'll keep 174 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:07,679 Speaker 2: using that. This practice is unacceptable and we urge the 175 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 2: Chinese military, like every military to operate in a safe 176 00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:13,959 Speaker 2: and professional manner, and we'll keep being very vocal about 177 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 2: this Wedin it's justified. 178 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:17,719 Speaker 1: I mean, they seem to be flexing their muscle. Is 179 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:20,320 Speaker 1: this you know? It seems quite worrying. 180 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 2: Well, it's something that occurs occasionally. We saw the hm 181 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:28,240 Speaker 2: US to Wilmboo incident last year as well as the 182 00:10:28,280 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 2: incident with a wrath Pa Po side where metal falls 183 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 2: dropped in near their engines. This is unacceptable. We call 184 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:42,679 Speaker 2: on all countries to follow international norms and practices and 185 00:10:42,720 --> 00:10:45,400 Speaker 2: this is not just happening to us. You can see 186 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 2: what's been subjected to the Filipino of the Philippines Defense Force, 187 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:52,320 Speaker 2: and we'll continue to call it out and try and 188 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 2: use diplomatic pressure to change behavior. This is really important 189 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,720 Speaker 2: the safety of our sailor's soldiers and aviators. 190 00:11:00,640 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 1: Well, Minister for Defense Industry Pat Conroy, really appreciate your 191 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 1: time while you're in Darwin. Thanks so much for having 192 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 1: a chat with me. 193 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 2: Thanks Codie, have a great morning you too.