Media Release – 7 September 2016
POLITICAL LEADERS TO ADDRESS SIA CONFERENCE
Australia’s political leaders and one of Canberra’s leading political commentators have been confirmed as speakers at this year’s SIA conference, which will be held in less than 100 days.
The two Cabinet Ministers who have direct portfolio responsibility for defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne and Hon Christopher Pyne MP, will both speak at the event. Minister Payne will deliver the opening address.
“With interest in the implementation of the Defence White Paper, the Defence Industry Policy Statement and the Defence Integrated Investment Program intensifying following the election, having both Ministers Payne and Pyne address the event will provide first-hand insights from the highest levels of government,” said the SIA’s Executive Director, David Nicholls.
“The presence of the Ministers will also give a stronger indication of the Government’s plans for the transition from Collins-class submarines to the new future submarines.
“With the new Shadow Minister for Defence, Hon Richard Marles MP, to present at the conference as well, the line-up of speakers promises to be one of the strongest ever at an SIA conference.”
The SIA is also pleased to announce the guest speaker at this year’s conference dinner is ABC Political Editor and author, Chris Uhlmann.
“Chris is one of Australia’s foremost political journalists and the perspectives he will give on the 45th Parliament, as well as the outcome of the US Presidential Election, which is being held a week before the conference, will be extremely valuable,” Mr Nicholls said.
The SIA’s eighth biennial conference will be held in Canberra on 14-16 November.
For further information about the conference, please visit www.submarineinstitute.com/sia-conferences/.
