EMBARGO: 5.00pm
FOR MEDIA SUNDAY, 2 MAY. 1982
ELECTORATE TALK
Last Thursday, the Minister for Defence, Mr Killen, made a
major statement in the Parliament. It camne on the eve of events
to mark the forthieth anniversary of one of Australia's most
critical momients in history, the Battle of the Coral Sea.
Australia's circumstances today are very different from those
we faced in early May 1942, but the memory of those frightening
days and the substance of last week's defence statement point to
two things. First, that there is a continuing need for a strong
defence force:, tailored to meet the threats and challenges of the
times; and second, that the Government has been meeting its
commitment to building that strong defence force.
Defence requires adequate funding and appropriate manpower and
equipment. The Government's defence spending has been increasing
substantially in recent years, bringing With it s ignif icant real
improvements in Australia's defence capability.. Indeed, defence
outlays in 19181/ 82 have increased by 1 over 1980/ 81, well
above the general price increases of between 10 and 11 per cent,
and although the Budget for 1982/ 83 has not yet been competed,
there will be a further substantial increase in the defence
vote next year, adding further to our real defence capacity.
In relation t~ o manpower, since service pay and allowances were
increased late last year, there are already early indications
that more service personnel are staying with the forces. There
is sometimes the feeling that increases in service pay are not
really a panl: of an increased defence effort, but this is quite
wrong. Apart from the common justice of adequately paying~ those who are
charged with the defence of Australia, it is important to attract
appropriate people, to train and educate them to the high levels
demanded today and then to retain them in the forces. Paying
to attract, ' train and retain service personnel is an integral
part.. of Australia's defence effort.
In relation -to equipment, the Government has made two major
changes to its on-going defence programme. We will acquire a new
aircraft * carrier and ten new Orion aircraft earlier than planned.
They were in the programme but they have both been brought forward.
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The decision to replace HMAS Melbourne with the new British
carrier, HMS Invincible, is well known.. We wanted a new
carrier, the Invincible became availabe, and it was a bargain
price. We had to take advantage of the offer and make an early
commitment or pay a lot more in the future for another aircraft
carrier. Australia will also take early delivery of ten new P3C'Orion
aircraft. In doing to so we have gained an advantage from getting
into the current production run in the United States. They will'
replace the existing squadron of P3B aircraft and their purchase
will increase the nubmer of P3C's Australia has available to a
total of twenty. These are modern long-range maritime patrol
aircraft, they are the best in the world.
The defence programme has to be flexible, we must be able to
respond to changed circumstances. The pay increases and-the
early acquisition of the aircraft carrier and the Orions have
led to a rescheduling of some other items of the programme*
but without detriment to our overall defence capacities'.
We will continue to maintain and develop all cof our defence
capabilities. This financial year, we will spend more than
four billion dollars on the nation's defence and in the last
18 months, we have more than doubled our commitment to future
defence purchases to almost six billion dollars-.
We have now, in the words of the recently retired Chief of Defence
Force Staff, the best-equipped and best trained force we have ever'
had in peacetime, and the programme we have developed for the
future will continue to build it up.
As well as the new aircraft carrier and the. 1.0-extra P3C Orions,
we have decided to buy 75 highly sophisticated F/ A-18 fighter
aircraft. Two new frigates have entered service and A further
2 will enter service over the next couple of years. Our
existing destroyers are being modernised and our defence
industries are being upgraded to support and maintain the complex
equipment entering service in this decade.
Australia's defences are strong and relevant to today. The
Government is fulfilling its fundamental responsibility-to keep
this nation secure.