Marise Payne News

The sailors aboard a missing Indonesian submarine have enough oxygen to last until Saturday, aboard a vessel that had been in good condition, the country's defense chiefs said on Thursday, as the search for the submarine continued.There were no signs of the KRI Nanggala-402, with 53 crew aboard as of Thursday afternoon, where a search and rescue mission was ongoing in calm weather conditions.Yudo Margono, the navy chief of staff, said that there would be enough oxygen for the sailors to last until Saturday…

Australia is pushing foreign-flagged cruise ships to leave its territorial waters amid the coronavirus pandemic, walking a diplomatic tightrope as it also tries to bring home citizens trapped on ships abroad.Western Australia state Premier Mark McGowan on Wednesday called on the federal government to kick out the German-owned MV Artania after the crew was reported to have asked the Australian Border Force (ABF) for permission to stay until April 14.“If what’s required is to clean the ship as a condition of getting it underway, well then do that ...

Australia ordered two cruise ships to leave its waters on Thursday, after a liner that docked in Sydney Harbor last week became the primary source of infection in the country's coronavirus outbreak.Although well below levels elsewhere in the world, the pace of Australia's infections is starting to pick up speed, reaching nearly 2,800 cases and 13 deaths.The government of West Australia state said nobody would be permitted to disembark from the German-operated MV Artania after seven of 800 foreign passengers on board tested positive for the virus…

The United States is planning to build additional military infrastructure in Australia once Congress gives approval to the U.S. Navy for $211.5 million, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on Tuesday.The plans for a bigger U.S. footprint in Australia come at a time when the Western allies have become increasingly concerned by China's efforts to expand its influence in the Pacific."The development of facilities will support the Force Posture Initiatives," Payne told Sky News…

Australia is sending more help to the Pacific nation of the Solomon Islands to stop oil from a grounded cargo ship destroying a World Heritage-listed marine sanctuary, Australia's foreign minister said on Sunday.At least 75 tonnes of heavy fuel oil has spilled from Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier Solomon Trader since Cyclone Oma drove it onto a reef at Rennell Island on Feb. 5.The ship was carrying 700 tonnes of oil when it ran aground and there are fears the remaining fuel will spoil Rennell Island…

Australia said that it will gift Timor-Leste two new patrol boats following the finalization of the shipbuilding arrangements. The new arrangements follow the agreement between Prime Minister Turnbull and Prime Minister Alkatiri in November 2017 for the provision of these two new boats to Timor-Leste. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, said Australia’s gifting of these vessels will help enhance Timor-Leste’s capability to patrol its maritime borders and protect its natural resources. “The boats will be sovereign capabilities of Timor-Leste, with Australian advisory, maintenance, infrastructure, and other support,” Minister Payne said. “This enduring assistance makes this agreement a 30 year commitment to supporting Timor-Leste’s security and prosperity.

Australia has discovered the wreck of its first submarine off the coast of Papua New Guinea, authorities said on Thursday, resolving one of the country’s oldest naval mysteries after more than a century. The submarine, AE-1, was the first Allied vessel to sink during World War One, while patrolling for German warships in 1914, in circumstances that have never been established. The Australian Navy and several private bodies found the final resting place of the vessel’s 35 crew on their 13th attempt, Defence Minister Marise Payne told media.

The Australian Government is joining forces with countries from around the world to conduct Exercise PACIFIC PROTECTOR, as part of an ongoing major international commitment to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems and related materials. The exercise will be held in Cairns, Queensland from 6–9 September 2017 as part of the Proliferation Security Initiative, which is an effort by 105 partner countries to build networks, tools and capabilities to counter illicit weapons of mass destruction-related trade across the globe. Participants will take part in academic sessions, a table top exercise, a subject matter exchange training program…

A group of warships departed Sydney on 4 September to participate in a series of key military exercises throughout the Indo-Pacific region – grouped as Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2017. Running from 4 September to 26 November, Indo-Pacific Endeavour will focus on enhancing military cooperation with some of Australia’s key regional partners including Brunei, Cambodia, the Federated States of Micronesia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. More than 1,200 Australian Defence Force personnel will participate, which is being led by Canberra class amphibious ship HMAS Adelaide.

An Australian Navy survey ship has located a U.S. military aircraft that crashed off the Australian northeast coast at the weekend and left three Marines missing, Defence Minister Marise Payne said on Monday. The navy divers will conduct remotely operated underwater vehicle operations before considering sending down divers, Payne said in a statement. The U.S. Marine Corps had suspended a search for the three Marines missing since the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft crashed while on regular operations on Saturday.

The Australian government announced a $89 billion (US$66.2 billion) naval shipbuilding plan, based mostly in Adelaide. The program will produce 12 submarines, nine frigates and 12 offshore patrol vessels for the Australian navy as well as 19 Pacific patrol boats to be given to neighboring countries. AFP quoted Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull saying that the largest peacetime naval investment package - first flagged in 2015 to replace its ageing fleets - would boost local industry, with up to 5,000 jobs created in shipbuilding directly and double that in the supply chain. "This is truly nation-building, a great national enterprise and it brings with it that enormous employment boost. It is unashamedly nationalistic," Malcolm said.

Australia and France are to sign a deal on Tuesday allowing French naval contractor DCNS to build a new fleet of submarines for Australia, said Australia's defence minister, in a deal worth 50 billion Australian dollars ($36.4 billion). "The contract will set out the legal framework under which Australia and France will partner on the future submarine programme over the coming decades." Australian defence minister Marise Payne told reporters in Sydney on Monday. Earlier this year, DCNS had been left reeling after details from more than 22,000 pages of documents relating to submarines it is building for India were published in The Australian newspaper, sparking concerns about the company's ability to protect sensitive data.

Throwing their hats in the air today marked not only the end of their time at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA), but also the start of a new phase in the military careers of 224 officer cadets and midshipmen. The Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, His Excellency, General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK, MC, was joined by the Minister for Defence Personnel, the Hon Dan Tehan MP, the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, AC, and other distinguished guests and families at the 2016 Graduation Parade. The achievement was extra special for ADFA as it marked the graduation of ADFA’s 30th class. Graduates from ADFA’s first class, who graduated in 1986, were also invited to attend the celebration.

After helping to deliver 216 tonnes of disaster relief, HMAS Darwin has completed support to residents of the Kaikoura area following the earthquake that struck the South Island of New Zealand on Monday. The disaster relief stores flown by Australian and Coalition helicopters included 13,000 kilograms of food, 2780kg of fruit and vegetables, 6000kg of rice, pasta and flour, four generators, two portable pumps and 10,000kg of pet food. “HMAS Darwin was diverted from her planned participation in the International Naval Review in Auckland and steamed to Kaikoura in response to a request from the New Zealand Government following the earthquake,” said the Minister for Defence, Senator Marise Payne. “The ship arrived in Kaikoura on Wednesday (16 Nov) evening.

The Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, and her French counterpart, Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, today agreed to strengthen the Australia-France defence relationship by establishing formal annual Australia-France Defence Ministers meetings. Minister Payne said Australia and France have a close and long-standing Defence relationship, based on shared interests in contributing to the rules-based global order and strong cooperation in the Pacific. “Building on these links, and in light of the cooperation that we will have for decades to come under the Future Submarine Program, we will establish formal Defence Ministers meetings," Minister Payne said.

The Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne and the Minister for Defence Industry, The Hon Christopher Pyne MP today announced that Lockheed Martin Australia has been selected as the preferred Combat System Integrator for Australia's Future Submarine Program, subject to further discussion on commercial matters. Minister Payne said this is an important step in the development of Australia’s regionally superior future submarines. Mr Pyne said Lockheed Martin Australia intends to team with other Australian companies to provide the local engineering capacity needed to support the program. "Today's announcement again shows the Turnbull Government is setting a cracking pace on delivering on its commitment to build 12 regionally superior submarines in Adelaide," Mr Pyne said.

The Australian government has begun its final evaluation of bids from Japan, Germany and France to choose the maker of its next-generation submarine and is expected to make its decision by the end of June, reports the Japan Times. The navy's new submarine fleet could reportedly cost taxpayers at least $5 billion less than expected, secret price estimates given to Defence by three international competitors show. The confidential bids lodged by Germany, France and Japan offer a much lower cost of building an eight-submarine fleet in Adelaide than was anticipated, The Australian newspaper reported on Saturday. Each of the three bidders for the submarine contract — Germany’s TKMS…

Shipbuilder Austal on Wednesday welcomed the Australian Minister for Defense, Senator Marise Payne, to Austal’s Western Australian shipyard for a look at the company’s naval vessel design, construction and sustainment capabilities.   The Defense Minister’s delegation, which included Senator Linda Reynolds and Senator Chris Back, was joined by Western Australia Premier, Colin Barnett and Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett for a tour of one of two OPV-sized High Speed Support Vessels; designed and constructed by Austal for the Royal Navy of Oman.

After five successful narcotic seizures in the Middle East and 203 days away from home, Royal Australian Navy frigate, HMAS Melbourne was welcomed back to her homeport of Sydney today. Around one thousand family and friends joined the Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, and Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Stuart Mayer, CSC and Bar, RAN, to welcome the ship’s company home from duties as part of Operation MANITOU. Minister Payne said the 223 men and women on board have made their families and Australia proud. “Melbourne made a significant dent in the profits of smugglers running drugs for terrorists,” Minister Payne said. “The frigate seized 977 kg of heroin valued at approximately $390 million.

Decommissioned Australian naval vessels ex-HMA Ships Tobruk and Sydney,will be offered for the creation of dive wrecks, announced Defense Minister Senator Marise Payne. After decades of invaluable service in the Royal Australian Navy, Tobruk and Sydney were decommissioned in July 2015 and November 2015 respectively. Tobruk was used extensively during regional peacekeeping and humanitarian operations as well as border protection in Northern Australia. Sydney was deployed to the Persian Gulf on five occasions in support of operations during the Gulf War…

Australian defence officials warned French naval contractor DCNS to beef up security in Australia, where it is preparing to build a A$50 billion ($38.13 billion) fleet of submarines, in the wake of a massive data leak, a government spokesman said on Friday. DCNS was left reeling after more than 22,000 pages outlining details relating to submarines it is building for India were published in The Australian newspaper earlier this week, sparking concerns about its ability to protect sensitive data. A senior Australian defence official, acting on orders from Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne, warned DCNS that the government was deeply concerned by the implications of the leak, a spokesman for the minister told Reuters.

Evaluation of Australia’s Future Submarine program proposals will now commence with all three potential international partners submitting their proposals in full, Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Marise Payne announced. “The Government’s Competitive Evaluation Process remains on schedule with Defence receiving submissions from DCNS of France, TKMS of Germany, and the Government of Japan by the 30 November 2015 closing deadline,’’ Senator Payne said. Defence will now assess the ability of the participants to work closely with us, including how each proposal would meet our capability and sustainment needs, and how cost, schedule and risk would be managed throughout the program.

Evaluation of Australia’s Future Submarine program proposals will now commence with all three potential international partners submitting their proposals in full, Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Marise Payne announced. “The Government’s Competitive Evaluation Process remains on schedule with Defence receiving submissions from DCNS of France, TKMS of Germany, and the Government of Japan by the 30 November 2015 closing deadline,’’ Senator Payne said. Defence will now assess the ability of the participants to work closely with us, including how each proposal would meet our capability and sustainment needs, and how cost, schedule and risk would be managed throughout the program.