Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Federal Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy is in Darwin
today to speak at the Northern Australia Defense Summit. The
Federal Government saying that Territorians are key beneficiaries of the
twenty twenty four Integrated Investment Program, which is allocated fourteen
to eighteen billion dollars over the next decade to bolster
(00:21):
Australia's northern bases and contribute to enhanced collective security of
the Indo Pacific. So what does that all mean? Wellt
joining me on the line is the Minister Pat Conroy.
Good morning to you, morning, Katie. Thanks so much for
your time this morning. Now, Minister, we know the Federal
government well you guys saying that you're investing in accelerated
(00:42):
upgrades at our doubaf based Tindal, including airfield improvements to
enable enhanced every fueling operations for transport aircraft. Why is
this needed?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Well, we face the greatest strategic uncertainty in our regency
world too, and we've also seen the biggest arms build
up in the region at the same time, and it's
vital that the Federal government protects the Australian people in
our interests and that's why we're making this investment fourteen
to eighteen billion dollars of investment in our northern bases
(01:15):
is critical to strengthening the Australian descent force and deterring
any potential aggression, and it means more jobs and more
income flowing through into the Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
I guess we here in the Northern Territory probably do
have a better understanding than a lot because of our
rich history, Darwin being bombed all of those years ago.
Is this investment enough for the NTA?
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Well, I think it's very significant. As I said, fourteen
to eighteen billion dollars is roughly seven to eight times
what the last government had planned for the same period
of time, so it's very significant. We've already got five
thousand Territorians working in the defense industry. You punch well
above your weight percentage of the population, and that will
(02:02):
grow as we push more money into support this Astralian
Defense force. And we're moving incredibly quickly. For example, we're
transforming the first brigade into one focused on It was
called latoral maneuver, which means amphibious movement in the sea
land intersection, and we're bringing forward a gigantic landing craft
from the mid twenty thirties, so they'll start being entering
(02:25):
service in twenty twenty eight. So we're moving at speed
and we're increasing of the SENSE budget to help protect
Australian people.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Minister, it seems like a massive amount of money, but
it's for all of Northern Australia. How much of it's
actually going to be for the Northern Territory, All.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
The vast majority of it will be for the Northern Territory. Yes,
we've got the SENSE establishments in Northwest Western Australia and
Northern Queens landing place flocked Townsville, but there's really critical
infrastructure in the MT. So for example, there's one one
point six billion dollars going to Raft Base Tindle, the
(03:03):
seven hundred and fifty million dollars going to the US
Force Posture Northern Territory Training Ranges, six hundred million dollars
to the Larache of Defense Precinct, three hundred and ninety
million dollars to the Robertson Barracks Improvements program. They're just
four examples of the massive investment we're making an MPT. Now,
as I said, you've got five thousand people working in
(03:24):
the defense industry, and it's about seven and a half
percent of your gross state product growth territory product, so
it's a really important contributor to your economy and that's
a great thing.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Are we expecting those defense numbers in the Northern Territory
to increase because I know that you said, you know
the large amount of that investment is coming here to
the Northern Territory rather than sort of the rest of
Northern Australia. But it does seem as though those defense
numbers in the likes of Townsville are increasing. Are they
going to increase here in the NT.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Yes, they will, and we're projecting about a growth of
about a thousand personnel, including over one hundred full time
ADF personnel, but the defense workforce will grow by another
thousand people over the next few years. So that's a
very significant increase and it reflects the strategic position of
(04:15):
the Northern Territory, particularly Darwin and Catherine for Australia. You
are vital to sense of our nation and we're putting
in the resources to support that.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
You spoke just a moment ago as well about the Marines.
Are we expecting the marine rotational numbers to increase in
the Northern Territory over the coming years as well.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
I'm not sure whether there's plans of increasing it even further,
but it has significantly increased since the force rotation began
over a decade ago. The numbers have gone up very significantly.
They're increasing the amount of capability they're coming in and
they're putting in place resources and investment in training ranges.
(04:57):
So I'm not clear whether they intend to expand it
even further.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
When we talk about, you know, the strategic importance of
the Northern Territory, particularly Darwin, when we talk about our
close proximity to Asia, when we look at our history
and the fact that we were bombed all those years ago,
I mean, does this investment and does this additional spend
into the Northern Territory put us at a greater risk?
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Not Kati. In fact, it's the opposite. It reduces the
risk and it deters aggression. I get asked this question
quite often, and the answer is that the best way
of deterring aggression is to put doubt in Anniversary's mind.
Is Anniversary thinks that Australia can strike back if they
attempt to coerce us. That reduces the chance of war.
(05:41):
And that's why we're making this investment. And that's why
the alven Ezi Labor Government's increasing in the sense budget
fifty billion dollars over the next ten years. Is because
the best way of dealing with that uncertainty is a
stronger Australian defense For us. You just need to look
at what occurred in the nineteen thirties where the Western
democracy refused to invest in their militaries. That didn't reduce
(06:03):
the chances of conflict, That increased the chances of conflict
by projecting weakness. And as I said at the start
of the interview, the most important job of the fedral
government is to protect the Australian people and our interests
and that's why we're making these investments.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
If you have just joined us, we are speaking to
the Federal Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy. You are in
Darwin today, of course, Minister, to speak at the Northern
Australia Defense Summit. What are you going to tell the audience, Well, I'll.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Be telling them that the future is bright for the
workforce and industry. Here a thousand companies already work in
the industry up here, five thousand workers. And there's some
great advocates for the NT in Parliament, particularly Solomon MP
Luke Gosling's obviously a former army officer, and I'll be
(06:52):
saying that we need you more, We need Northern Territory.
We need Darwin to ramp up to support the ADF
even further, we need you to invest in the workforce
that can do that, and we'll support that because the
defense of nation depends upon what you can do in
the Northern Territory. So it's exciting times. People shouldn't be
too worried, but they're exciting times in terms of the
(07:13):
amount of economic activity that's going to be coming into Darwin.
And that's great for the local economy and it's great
for kids thinking about picking up a trade or doing
an engineering degree at UNIS as they can have a
bright future serving the Australian defense industry.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
And what kind of percentages are we talking about in
terms of local contractors being involved in this work.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
It's very high. People seem to think that a lot
of the work is going into state, but that's just
not the case. Let me give you an example. There's
work going on right now at raft based Kindle and
it's managed by land Leaf. Ninety three percent of the
work packages have flown through the local MPT company, so
that's nine hundred and seventy nine million dollars have flown
(07:57):
through to local Northern Territory company. Is twelve percent of
the workforce working at rath Tindal is Indigenous and about
one hundred and sixty three million dollars on that project
have flown through to Indigenous own companies. So this is
huge amounts of work going to MT companies and NT
workers and we expect that to grow significantly over the
(08:19):
next few years.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Minister just finally, a pretty concerning situation over the weekend
with China's aggression towards an Australian Navy helicopter over the
weekend making headlines right around the nation after a fighter
jet from the People's Liberation Army Air Force dropped flares
in the immediate flight path of an Australian Defense for
Seahawk conducting routine operations of HMAS Hobart and the Yellow
(08:45):
Sea on Saturday night. How concerning is this situation for Australia.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Well, it is concerning. The practice by the Chinese Air
Force was unsafe and unprofessional, and we've made strong remonstrations
of that to the Chinese government. I should stress that
Hahmus Hobart and the helicopter were operating in international waters
in the LSC close to South Korea. They are part
(09:14):
of a UN operation to enforce sanctions against the oppressive
regime in North Korea. They are doing good work, not
just for Australia but for the world, and for those
personality is subjects of unsafe and upprofessional practices by the
People's Liberation Army Air Force is unacceptable and we've made
that point to China and we'll keep making that point.
(09:35):
Every military around the world has an application to operate
in a safe and professional manner, and this was not
the case in this incident.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
And so what steps had been taken by the federal
government really to condemn these actions to China.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Well, we've conveyed our strong concern to the Chinese government,
both in Australia and in China itself, and we'll keep
doing that. There are established lines of communication between governments
from between militaries, and we've used that and we'll keep
using that. This practice is unacceptable and we urge the
Chinese military, like every military to operate in a safe
(10:11):
and professional manner, and we'll keep being very vocal about
this Wedin it's justified.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
I mean, they seem to be flexing their muscle. Is
this you know? It seems quite worrying.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Well, it's something that occurs occasionally. We saw the hm
US to Wilmboo incident last year as well as the
incident with a wrath Pa Po side where metal falls
dropped in near their engines. This is unacceptable. We call
on all countries to follow international norms and practices and
(10:42):
this is not just happening to us. You can see
what's been subjected to the Filipino of the Philippines Defense Force,
and we'll continue to call it out and try and
use diplomatic pressure to change behavior. This is really important
the safety of our sailor's soldiers and aviators.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Well, Minister for Defense Industry Pat Conroy, really appreciate your
time while you're in Darwin. Thanks so much for having
a chat with me.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Thanks Codie, have a great morning you too.
The Federal Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy is in Darwin
today to speak at the Northern Australia Defense Summit. The
Federal Government saying that Territorians are key beneficiaries of the
twenty twenty four Integrated Investment Program, which is allocated fourteen
to eighteen billion dollars over the next decade to bolster
(00:21):
Australia's northern bases and contribute to enhanced collective security of
the Indo Pacific. So what does that all mean? Wellt
joining me on the line is the Minister Pat Conroy.
Good morning to you, morning, Katie. Thanks so much for
your time this morning. Now, Minister, we know the Federal
government well you guys saying that you're investing in accelerated
(00:42):
upgrades at our doubaf based Tindal, including airfield improvements to
enable enhanced every fueling operations for transport aircraft. Why is
this needed?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Well, we face the greatest strategic uncertainty in our regency
world too, and we've also seen the biggest arms build
up in the region at the same time, and it's
vital that the Federal government protects the Australian people in
our interests and that's why we're making this investment fourteen
to eighteen billion dollars of investment in our northern bases
(01:15):
is critical to strengthening the Australian descent force and deterring
any potential aggression, and it means more jobs and more
income flowing through into the Northern Territory.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
I guess we here in the Northern Territory probably do
have a better understanding than a lot because of our
rich history, Darwin being bombed all of those years ago.
Is this investment enough for the NTA?
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Well, I think it's very significant. As I said, fourteen
to eighteen billion dollars is roughly seven to eight times
what the last government had planned for the same period
of time, so it's very significant. We've already got five
thousand Territorians working in the defense industry. You punch well
above your weight percentage of the population, and that will
(02:02):
grow as we push more money into support this Astralian
Defense force. And we're moving incredibly quickly. For example, we're
transforming the first brigade into one focused on It was
called latoral maneuver, which means amphibious movement in the sea
land intersection, and we're bringing forward a gigantic landing craft
from the mid twenty thirties, so they'll start being entering
(02:25):
service in twenty twenty eight. So we're moving at speed
and we're increasing of the SENSE budget to help protect
Australian people.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Minister, it seems like a massive amount of money, but
it's for all of Northern Australia. How much of it's
actually going to be for the Northern Territory, All.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
The vast majority of it will be for the Northern Territory. Yes,
we've got the SENSE establishments in Northwest Western Australia and
Northern Queens landing place flocked Townsville, but there's really critical
infrastructure in the MT. So for example, there's one one
point six billion dollars going to Raft Base Tindle, the
(03:03):
seven hundred and fifty million dollars going to the US
Force Posture Northern Territory Training Ranges, six hundred million dollars
to the Larache of Defense Precinct, three hundred and ninety
million dollars to the Robertson Barracks Improvements program. They're just
four examples of the massive investment we're making an MPT. Now,
as I said, you've got five thousand people working in
(03:24):
the defense industry, and it's about seven and a half
percent of your gross state product growth territory product, so
it's a really important contributor to your economy and that's
a great thing.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Are we expecting those defense numbers in the Northern Territory
to increase because I know that you said, you know
the large amount of that investment is coming here to
the Northern Territory rather than sort of the rest of
Northern Australia. But it does seem as though those defense
numbers in the likes of Townsville are increasing. Are they
going to increase here in the NT.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Yes, they will, and we're projecting about a growth of
about a thousand personnel, including over one hundred full time
ADF personnel, but the defense workforce will grow by another
thousand people over the next few years. So that's a
very significant increase and it reflects the strategic position of
(04:15):
the Northern Territory, particularly Darwin and Catherine for Australia. You
are vital to sense of our nation and we're putting
in the resources to support that.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
You spoke just a moment ago as well about the Marines.
Are we expecting the marine rotational numbers to increase in
the Northern Territory over the coming years as well.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
I'm not sure whether there's plans of increasing it even further,
but it has significantly increased since the force rotation began
over a decade ago. The numbers have gone up very significantly.
They're increasing the amount of capability they're coming in and
they're putting in place resources and investment in training ranges.
(04:57):
So I'm not clear whether they intend to expand it
even further.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
When we talk about, you know, the strategic importance of
the Northern Territory, particularly Darwin, when we talk about our
close proximity to Asia, when we look at our history
and the fact that we were bombed all those years ago,
I mean, does this investment and does this additional spend
into the Northern Territory put us at a greater risk?
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Not Kati. In fact, it's the opposite. It reduces the
risk and it deters aggression. I get asked this question
quite often, and the answer is that the best way
of deterring aggression is to put doubt in Anniversary's mind.
Is Anniversary thinks that Australia can strike back if they
attempt to coerce us. That reduces the chance of war.
(05:41):
And that's why we're making this investment. And that's why
the alven Ezi Labor Government's increasing in the sense budget
fifty billion dollars over the next ten years. Is because
the best way of dealing with that uncertainty is a
stronger Australian defense For us. You just need to look
at what occurred in the nineteen thirties where the Western
democracy refused to invest in their militaries. That didn't reduce
(06:03):
the chances of conflict, That increased the chances of conflict
by projecting weakness. And as I said at the start
of the interview, the most important job of the fedral
government is to protect the Australian people and our interests
and that's why we're making these investments.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
If you have just joined us, we are speaking to
the Federal Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy. You are in
Darwin today, of course, Minister, to speak at the Northern
Australia Defense Summit. What are you going to tell the audience, Well, I'll.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Be telling them that the future is bright for the
workforce and industry. Here a thousand companies already work in
the industry up here, five thousand workers. And there's some
great advocates for the NT in Parliament, particularly Solomon MP
Luke Gosling's obviously a former army officer, and I'll be
(06:52):
saying that we need you more, We need Northern Territory.
We need Darwin to ramp up to support the ADF
even further, we need you to invest in the workforce
that can do that, and we'll support that because the
defense of nation depends upon what you can do in
the Northern Territory. So it's exciting times. People shouldn't be
too worried, but they're exciting times in terms of the
(07:13):
amount of economic activity that's going to be coming into Darwin.
And that's great for the local economy and it's great
for kids thinking about picking up a trade or doing
an engineering degree at UNIS as they can have a
bright future serving the Australian defense industry.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
And what kind of percentages are we talking about in
terms of local contractors being involved in this work.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
It's very high. People seem to think that a lot
of the work is going into state, but that's just
not the case. Let me give you an example. There's
work going on right now at raft based Kindle and
it's managed by land Leaf. Ninety three percent of the
work packages have flown through the local MPT company, so
that's nine hundred and seventy nine million dollars have flown
(07:57):
through to local Northern Territory company. Is twelve percent of
the workforce working at rath Tindal is Indigenous and about
one hundred and sixty three million dollars on that project
have flown through to Indigenous own companies. So this is
huge amounts of work going to MT companies and NT
workers and we expect that to grow significantly over the
(08:19):
next few years.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Minister just finally, a pretty concerning situation over the weekend
with China's aggression towards an Australian Navy helicopter over the
weekend making headlines right around the nation after a fighter
jet from the People's Liberation Army Air Force dropped flares
in the immediate flight path of an Australian Defense for
Seahawk conducting routine operations of HMAS Hobart and the Yellow
(08:45):
Sea on Saturday night. How concerning is this situation for Australia.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Well, it is concerning. The practice by the Chinese Air
Force was unsafe and unprofessional, and we've made strong remonstrations
of that to the Chinese government. I should stress that
Hahmus Hobart and the helicopter were operating in international waters
in the LSC close to South Korea. They are part
(09:14):
of a UN operation to enforce sanctions against the oppressive
regime in North Korea. They are doing good work, not
just for Australia but for the world, and for those
personality is subjects of unsafe and upprofessional practices by the
People's Liberation Army Air Force is unacceptable and we've made
that point to China and we'll keep making that point.
(09:35):
Every military around the world has an application to operate
in a safe and professional manner, and this was not
the case in this incident.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
And so what steps had been taken by the federal
government really to condemn these actions to China.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Well, we've conveyed our strong concern to the Chinese government,
both in Australia and in China itself, and we'll keep
doing that. There are established lines of communication between governments
from between militaries, and we've used that and we'll keep
using that. This practice is unacceptable and we urge the
Chinese military, like every military to operate in a safe
(10:11):
and professional manner, and we'll keep being very vocal about
this Wedin it's justified.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
I mean, they seem to be flexing their muscle. Is
this you know? It seems quite worrying.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Well, it's something that occurs occasionally. We saw the hm
US to Wilmboo incident last year as well as the
incident with a wrath Pa Po side where metal falls
dropped in near their engines. This is unacceptable. We call
on all countries to follow international norms and practices and
(10:42):
this is not just happening to us. You can see
what's been subjected to the Filipino of the Philippines Defense Force,
and we'll continue to call it out and try and
use diplomatic pressure to change behavior. This is really important
the safety of our sailor's soldiers and aviators.
Speaker 1 (11:00):
Well, Minister for Defense Industry Pat Conroy, really appreciate your
time while you're in Darwin. Thanks so much for having
a chat with me.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Thanks Codie, have a great morning you too.
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