Prime Minister
PRIME MINISTER: Well as we said downstairs, it is a great thrill for the Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds, and I to be here today, to be visiting with you on your return and particularly to be joined by Vice Admiral Noonan, the Chief of Navy, and Captain Doug Theobald, Commander of Submarine Force; Commander Darren White, Commander of HMAS Sheehan.
The reason we have come here today is to say something quite simple but something incredibly important, on behalf of the Australian people. And that is to simply say thank you for your service. The service that you’ve rendered in your most recent service, is incredibly valuable as you know and as I know, and as the Minister knows. It is a silent service the Submarine force, the general public have never been in a position to be able to appreciate I think the full details of what you’re able to do for your country, but you haven’t joined up to participate in these types of operations for parades, you’ve done it because out of a deep sense of duty, both to your fellow men and women of the Navy and the ADF more broadly, and out of a great commitment to your country. This is a calling that you have chosen to take up. And you’ve had the great privilege in most recent times to be able to go out and fulfil that calling on behalf of your fellow Australians. We just simply want you to know, that in all of the decisions that we make, in all of the careful considerations that we put around the various operations and the missions that we consider, that we – at all times – of course, consider the welfare of all of our serving men and women. And not just while they’re on deployment, and not just while they’re training for the deployment, when they return, and at some point in the future when you may choose to do something else, to ensure that your service is always respected and always honoured.
And so, with those simple remarks, it’s been a great thrill to come back here today to HMAS Stirling and to simply say to all of you, on behalf of all Australians, thank you so much for your service and I trust that, I know you’re already have spent some time at home with family again since you’ve returned, but I also know from a few of the chats that we had down below that you’re also looking forward to the next opportunity to serve your country on deployment again. So thank you very much, I’m going to hand over to Linda to say one or two things and then we’ll go from there.