Subjects: Solomon Islands; AUKUS; nuclear-powered submarines; purchase of Pacific Support vessel.
GREG JENNETT:
Defence Minister Peter Dutton joins us now, so we’re going to cross to him in Nowra. Welcome Minister. Time will get tight, but I think we can get a couple of quick questions out of you. We have the Indo-Pacific, US Indo-Pacific adviser Kurt Campbell visiting Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands over the next few days. Is this a vote of no confidence in Australia’s management of the security relationships with countries like Solomons in particular?
PETER DUTTON:
No Greg, not at all. I think it’s a demonstration of the partnership that we have with not just New Zealand and other countries in the region, but also with the United States and the United Kingdom and others that want to have a bigger presence in our part of the world.
The Americans see the strategic importance for them to be here to be engaging, and that would be the purpose of Kurt Campbell’s visit, to have that discussion and to further strengthen the relationships between the Solomon Islands in this case and the United States.
GREG JENNETT:
Can we conclude that the Solomons security deal with Beijing has represented something of a wake-up call to the Biden Administration about the speed with which China is advancing its interests, but also the fact that it kind of flew under the radar?
PETER DUTTON:
Greg, I think when you see what the United States has been capable of in terms of the intelligence collection in Ukraine, really being one step ahead of President Putin at every turn, you’d understand that the United States would have a fairly significant intelligence picture within our own region as well. So I don’t think they get caught by surprise. I think they understand what the Chinese are doing, the path on which they’re embarking, and the fact that China is a very different country under President Xi than it has been in recent years.
We need to be mindful of their efforts, their influence – not just within our region – but across Africa and around the world. They’re heading down a particular path, as I say, we should be cognisant of that, we should be honest about it and we should be calling out the behaviour where we don’t think it’s consistent with our own values.
GREG JENNETT:
And should we expect any undertakings, just finally on that issue, any undertakings sought or given to the US delegation that Australia hasn’t received or sought?
PETER DUTTON:
Well, I’m not going to comment on the discussions that Kurt Campbell will have. I mean Kurt Campbell is an incredibly accomplished person; first point. So he doesn’t need my advice as to how he should conduct his engagements there, and I’ll leave it to him.
GREG JENNETT:
Fair enough. I want to move on to AUKUS submarines. I noticed when you were in Adelaide over the weekend, you were questioned about local jobs there and profited a view that there may be opportunities for Australia to manufacture elements for the US or the UK fleet of submarines, depending which one Australia goes with. Would that suggest in the US case that you’ve discussed or are prepared…the US is prepared to suspend the Jones Act, which is that protective bill that prevents military assets being built outside of America?
PETER DUTTON:
Well Greg, as you know, the United States hadn’t shared the intellectual property on the nuclear submarine propulsion system with any country since 1958, when they shared it with the UK. Obviously the agreement that we’ve got with the UK and the US through AUKUS is incredibly productive. I’ve been very, very grateful for the engagement.
We have had delegations out here from both the US and the UK in recent weeks to Osborne, and elsewhere and as you’re seeing, not just with the submarine side of the AUKUS deal, but also with many other elements around space, around autonomous vehicles, there is a collaboration like we’ve never seen before.
So we’ll have more to say over the course of the remaining period in the 18 month consultation, but we are a very significant partner of the US. They are incredibly important to peace and stability within the Indo-Pacific and we want to continue to work very closely with them because we want China to, frankly, act in a way that is consistent with our values – that has been the case over a number of years – but we are concerned with the path that China’s going down and we need to be even closer with, not just our traditional partners, but with India and with Japan.
As you know, India has conflict with China on their shared land border in the East China Sea. Japan is seeing acts of aggression from the Chinese militia every day.
GREG JENNETT:
Sure. I do want to cover off just one last item in the time remaining, and it’s a shame we’re pressed, but here we go. The Horizon Star is being purchased by Australia to ply the waters of the South Pacific. About $90 million I think is the price from the Canary Islands. When do you expect this particular ship to arrive and or go into service for Australia?
PETER DUTTON:
Greg, from memory, it’s about May, so it’s not too far away, and it will provide a great service and outreach for our support to our near neighbours and to our family in the region. It’s an incredibly important asset and it will be a significant part of the way in which we continue to engage, to train, to provide capacity building and support with, as I say, not just friends, but family as well.
GREG JENNETT:
There are never any shortage of matters to discuss with you Peter Dutton, but that is all we’ve got time for today. We’ll try and get you back on Afternoon Briefing before long, but thanks for fronting there in Nowra. I really appreciate it.
PETER DUTTON:
Thanks Greg.
[ends]