EMBARGO: 5: 0Q0 PM F
FOR MEDIA SUNDAY,_ FEBRUARY 28 1982
ELECTORATE TALK
Last ThursdaLy, Defence Minister Jim Killen announced the
Government's decision to acquire H. M. S. Invincible from the
United Kingdom. This follows his announcement last October
that Australia would acquire 75 FA18 aircraft from the
United States as our new tactical fighter force.
These are two of the most recent decisions in achieving the
Government's; programme to develop our defence force and to
enhance our overall defence capabilities. The Government's
prime object~ ive is to develop a balanced defence force which
has advanced capabilities in all services Army, Navy and
Air Force. A balanced defence force is one in which the whole
range of contingencies which might threaten our security
can be met in a co-ordinated and integrated way.
For land operations, we have an army which is equipped with
the manpowerc, fire power and mobility to give it real teeth.
Apqrt f rom its obvious f ighter and bomnber capabilities, the
Air Force commands extensive resources needed to meet the
transport arid surveillance needs of the armed forces. For its
part, the Navy operates fast patrol boats and landing craft
for in-shore work as well as highly flexible guided missile
frigates and destroyers which can be used for both in-shore
and deep oc-ean tasks.
Modern warfare requires both high technologies and rapid
communications so as to ensure that these capabilities are
co-ordinated effectively. A modern and sophisticated ship like
Invincible hias a crucial role in directing major naval task
force operations.
The Defence Force needs advanced command and control facilities
which can support the movement of troops, aircraft and ships.
With its special computers and control systems, Invincible
will constitute a key element in the projection of combined
air and naval power. Operating with our long-range Orion
maritime control aircraft, the Fl-11 strike force, -the FA-18s
our guided. missile destroyers and submarines, Invincible will
be an exceptionally potent deterrent to any potential aggressor. / 2
-2-
It is partly because Invincible offers these capabilities
that the United Kingdom is very reluctant to part with it.
Far from acquiring something which is second-hand or obsolete
Australia is able to obtain a defence system which is regarded
as being amongst the most advanced in the world., H. M. S. Invincible
will provide a very substantial increase in Australia'snational
defence capabilities, and will greatly enhance our
ability to-deter aggression in our own region in the decades
ahead. Australia's economic and social health depends on being able
to maintain our trade. We need to be able to keep our trade routes
open and counter any threat to them. Submari nes would present
the most difficult type of threat for us to counter. With
Invincible our ability to detect and destroy any submarine
threat to our trade routes will be second to none in the region.
For Australia,, a balanced defence force must have very highly
developed anti-submarine warfare capability. But Invincible
is not simply a platform for anti-submarine warfare. While it
is particularly suited for operating large anti-submarine
helicopters, it is not aimed at any single contingency.
It could be used in a wide variety of military operations
including the carriage of up to a battalion of troops, the
co-ordination of air elements and the direction of naval
units in combat. With these functions it adds a wide range
of capabilities beyond those now available to us.
The acquisition of a major new capability like Invincible
will not only contribute significantly to the needs of a
balanced defence force and to our security within our
immediate region. Given the present threat levels of
international tension, the Government intends to make sure
th~ it Australia is fully equipped to contribute to the stiengthenjng
of the Wes-tern alliance.
With New Zealand and the United States, Australia has a
crucial role in both the Pacific and Indian oceans, where
advanced anti-submarine warfare capability and high grade
command and control facilities are essential. Our position
in the world is not so secure that we can take possible threats
to our security lightly. While we have the advantage of
distance from the main centres of potential. conflict, we cannot
assume we will not be gravely affected by conflict whenever it
may occur. For example, the security of our trade routes is
essential for our economic survival. The field of defence is'
one which is fraught with hard choices for all democratic
countries. We are making decisions which at once protect
our national interests and represent a reasonable investment
of resources. 000---