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PRIME MINISTER
POE MDIA TUJBSDAY, DBC* EMBF. R 1 1981
This is an important occasion for our nation becatise the
purchas8e of--+/-iA-14-Hornets is the largest peacetime
defence project in Australia's history.
it is a project which will involve close co-operation among
several partner-%* and I welcome not only the representatives
of the U. S. Governmvent, the McDonnell Douglas Aircraft
Corporation and General FSlectric but also the representatives
of a number ot-A-u-sralian firms and trade unions because
PAustralian industry will be vitally involved with the whole
0 project. The Hornets will constitute Australia's new tactical
~ fighter force, and their purchase comes at a time when all
of us are concerned about trends in world events, and about
how to respond to them.
thiS~ context I welcome the opportunity to say something
about Australia's relationship with the United States.
Auetiralia and the United States have long been involved in
0-operation across a wide range of common concerns. Ile are
*& Ni~ ar ). inds of society.-so it is not surprising that we
7oftenind_. Qrzt1ixzon the same side, making sitnilar-_
judgements and reaching similar conclusions. In the-field
ofdefence inl particular we have man concerns in conmmon,
and there are many strands within our relationship.
Let mre say at the outset that Australia is pleased Indeed that
Presiaent Reagan has embar) ked on the process of rebuilding
M; S ezI. bb. se-a strong United States is vital to the
security of the f ree world. Wems ee e his fact be
obscured because it can be obscured b~ y people who too easily
~ v allow the enemies of democracy to Tnasguerade as it5 defenders.
I must say that I take no pleasure or comf~ ort from the
critiim hc are sometimes levelled at United States
c -hss
policy in this area, for peace' can best be purstied from a
position of streingth, 2neditcnbseo eipesuorls ued
from a position of strength. Any failure to recognise this
paths which have been followed towards the achievement of
7 peace have not workcdi.
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.4 r. * The Boviet -Union exploited detente and the S. A. L. T. process
on W7ich -ft was based to increase both the numbers and
capabilities of its own military forces both nuclear andconventional.
The growth of Soviet military power over recent
years gives cause for great concern, and cannot but reflect
longer term Intentions. The Soviets have taken
advantage of western restraint and have developed a capability
ofpraj ctiq-their military power not only In Europe but
in other regions as well.
Against the background of these moves by the Soviet Union,
-the pursuit of peace and stability required a fresh approach
and the policies developed by the Reagan administration leave
no room for doubt, either that there is a fresh approach, or
about-the alt-556f th~ t_ approach.
Two weeks ago President Reagan made a major statement in
which he issued an invitation to all. nations to join in-the
quest for peace, security and freedom. This' statement is a
clear and unequivocal response to the growing instability and
insecurity whichi hs.. marked-he early years of thip decade.
President Reagan's programme is as bold as it is comprehensive!
b-" ause, he has not started f rom any misconception about the
-r lative strengths of the East and the West, This riewJ
programme is high statesmanship, and Australfa welcomes it,
-but the international environment certainly gives no basis
f orocomplacency. There is a wide range -of contingencies
in which Australia could find itself in the. years qhead
and because of this, we need a defence policy and &,,, defene
capability which is both comprehensive and effective.
On* ilnplicatioi of this is that Australia's deferce policy
must be onte of sel * f-reliance. F'or. a country with a = rall.
pulation,. a large land mass, an even larger teritrialsa#~
extended lines of international communication arid a
developed industrial base self-reliance means a defence
capability based . on high technology rather than simple numbers.
The implicati~ ons of this are far reaching, especially in the
Context of our capabilities in the air.
In making the decision about the tacotical figjhte-r-Forzce7__ tii
Govern z had to consider which aircraft would best zueet
our strategic requirements witth maximum flexibility, adaptabi: lity
and aVailability. At the same time, the Government had to
consider which aircraft could carry the YR. AX through to the
next century, while having at the sane time the capacoity to
be adapted-to tech-nological change. .9
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There is no doubt that the Hornet is an outstanding aircraft,
it combines a multi-role performance with formidable capabilities.
It is a reliable and safe aircraft, we can expect it to have
a long life, and it has been designed from the outset for
ease of maintenance. It is well suited to our operating,
deployment and maintenance requirements, and it also has the
flexibility to accept improved weapons in future years.
The Hornet uses technology and manufacturing processes new to
Australia and the project will be introducing some of these
processes into Australian industry. This Government has a
longstanding policy that Australian industry should have the
capacity to provide support for our defence force, This is
obviously part of self reliance. We have therefore developed
an industry programme in connection with the Hornet project,
which will involve introducing new skills in many areas,
and which will give Australia capacities which will be
crucial to the continuing support of the aircraft.
The success of this programme will make considerable demands
on Australian industry, on both management and the workforce.
I am confident, however, as others are, that the required
levels and standards of production will be achieved,
because this project means a great deal to the future of
Australia. There is no doubt that in developing the Hornet, McDonnell
Douglas and General Electric have produced an aeroplane which
will provide a boost to Australia's defence capability in
general and a powerful addition to the RAAF, and we look
ahead to the delivery of the Hornets to the RAAF through the
1980s. o0o---