Media Release – 20 July 2016
STRENGTHENED REPRESENTATION IN CABINET
The Submarine Institute of Australia (SIA) congratulates the Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, on her reappointment as part of the re-elected Turnbull Government.
The SIA is also pleased the Prime Minister has strengthened Cabinet representation in the portfolio by appointing Hon Christopher Pyne MP as the Minister for Defence Industry.
“With Australia having several Ministers for Defence in recent years, the Submarine Institute of Australia welcomes the stability in this important role,” said SIA President, Andy Keough.
“Before and during the election campaign, Minister Payne took a diligent and methodical approach to progressing the Government’s increased commitment to national security.
“Minister Pyne’s switch to a second Cabinet post in the defence portfolio reflects the growing importance of defence industry to the Australian economy going forward.
“Now the incoming government is clear, one of the first priorities should be implementation of the $50 billion Future Submarine Program, the largest defence procurement exercise in Australia’s history. Implementation must include effectively managing the transition from the Collins-class submarines to avoid any reduction in submarine force capability.
“The SIA is keen to continue to work with Minister Payne, Minister Pyne and the Turnbull Government to assist with this.”
The SIA also looks forward to engaging with the Shadow Minister for Defence.
Ministers Payne and Pyne, as well as the Shadow Minister will be invited to the SIA’s eighth biennial conference, which will be held in Canberra on 15-16 November.
“A high-profile panel of national and international political, military, industry and academic speakers have been invited to the conference,” Mr Keough said. “The SIA is pleased to announce the program for this year’s event is being extended by half a day to enable even more information-sharing, debate and networking at what is the leading submarine forum in the Asia-Pacific region.”
For further information about the conference, please visit the SIA website, www.submarineinstitute.com.
Further information:
Hamish Arthur
MCM Strategic Communications
+61 406 510 083 SIA Ref: 16/REL/0720
