PRIME MINISTER
TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P. J. KEATING MP
SPEECH AT LAUNCH OF ANZAC FRIGATE TE KAHA, WILLIAMSTOWN,
SATURDAY, 22 JULY 1995
E& OE PROOF COPY
Thank you very much, John White ( Chief Executive, Transfield Defence
Systems), Prime Minister Jim Bolger and Joan, I'm very pleased to see you in
Australia on this occasion, our Defence Ministers Warren Cooper and Robert
Ray, Carlo Salteri ( Transfield Chairman), Rear Admiral Walsh, the Hon Bill
Baxter representing the Premier, parliamentary colleagues, members of the
Defence Force, Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Reverend David North
and Bishop Vercoe and ladies and gentlemen.
One of the last things that was just said was that ANZAC was a class, it is the
name of a class and, of course, as we in this country and New Zealand know,
it has always been a class name. It has always stood for the world's best
when it came to a fighting force and I don't believe there could be any greater
manifestation of our co-operation or the kindred nature of our two countries
than to be here for an historic launch of a collaborative project of this kind.
The things we have always believed about our two countries the common
ideals, the common culture, the threatres of war we fought in in defence of
liberty all of these things, I think, are in evidence today in the fact that we
have come together as nations in this collaborative exercise to build this
class of ships bearing that proud name ANZAC. I am delighted to be here on
this occasion for the launching of Te Kaha.
It is, I think, a magnificent ship, state of the art and world class. One of the
things, I am sure, that we do in Australia and New Zealand these days is
build good ships and maybe this will have more fighting power than an
America's Cup yacht, certainly more hitting power although no doubt we
could commission them America's Cup yachts that is with some
armaments. They would be a pretty fearful thing, but this, I think, represents
as good as it is likely to be world wide.
What is important, I think, about this is a recognition by Australia and New
Zealand that in our own defence we need these capacities and capabilities.
The thing about this ship which will be true of no other, or very few we've had
in the past, is that it will be serviced here in Australasia because it is built
here in Australasia and one of the things about our defence will now be that
we will focus on our regional strengths, our industrial capabilities, our
capacity for research and development, for design not simply of ships but of
combat systems and weapon systems because with the finish of the Cold
War what we are now seeing, where once everything was international ised,
what we are now seeing is the regionalisation of difficulties, where regional
tensions come to the fore and where countries organise themselves
regionally. I think this is something which we are doing. We are building a naval ship
building capacity like this here in Australasia and, of course, in Australia's
case we also have a submarine program, we will soon have the Mine Hunter
Program and the hydrographic ship. There is a real core naval capacity
being built here and one that I think must be comforting to the peoples of
Australia and New Zealand, that this capacity exists within our countries. Of
course, we have built this and we have innovated the design and developed
further the weapon systems, but I think it also reminds us of our important
linkages to Europe. John White and Carlo Salteri have already mentioned
Blohm and Voss the Naval architects and let me also mention Celsius
Tech the Swedish Company that designed the combat systems in which we
have been able to augment.
But, beyond all that what I would like to do is to congratulate Transfield on
putting together this capacity to develop these ships, to be able to produce
them at this quality and on time. This is a great compliment to them as a
company and to the workforce of these yards that they could harness these
skills and give such commitment and such pride to the building of such a
vessel. Without them, of course, this ship wouldn't be here and we need to
think about them and to thank them.
I would like to, just again, dwell on the major point that having an Australian
and New Zealand Prime Minister together at the launch of a ship in which we
are involved collaboratively, I think, says again much about our relationship,
says how seriously we regard the first duty of any government and that is to
make certain of the security of its people and to have a competent Defence
Force. With this Defence Force here today, the Defence Force of our
countries in Australia and New Zealand, will see this augmentation coming
here today and I am very proud to be involved. I'd like to again, congratulate
everybody concerned and most particularly wish Te Kaha well and, of course,
naturally and especially all who will sail in her. Thank you.
ends