Doorstop interview, Darwin

E&OE transcript
Doorstop interview
Darwin

Bombing of Darwin Commemorative Service, Defence Strategic Review

LUKE GOSLING, MEMBER FOR SOLOMON: Good morning everyone. My name is Luke Gosling I’m the Federal Member of Parliament that represents this beautiful face here on Larrakia land. I'm really proud to represent the people of Darwin and Palmerston down in Canberra. I've just returned from Canberra. And it's great to have our Federal Veterans’ Affairs Minister, Matt Keogh here with us today for this very important ceremony, which commemorates, we will remember what happened here 81 years ago, when our city was bombed in World War Two, we were then and we remain on the front line of our nation. It's great also to be joined by Natasha Fyles, the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, it was great to hear from her too today about their very human element of 1942. When on the 15th of February, Darwin, our city on the frontline of the war effort, we were hit by the enemy right here. And Australians died right here. First Nations Australians died right here, members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, our allies, the Americans died here on our Harbour, on our land here as we defended our nation. So 81 years later, nothing much has changed, we remain on the front line of our nation. So we look forward to the release of the Defence Security Review, the Defence Strategic Review that will chart the path forward. And one thing that will be really clear, is that we remain on the front line of our nation, we remain totally vital, not only to our relationships with our neighbors, but also to the defence of the Australian homeland. So great to have the Minister here and the Chief Minister, I'll hand over to them. Thanks.

MATT KEOGH, MINISTER FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS: Thanks Luke. And it's an absolute honor to be able to join the Darwin and Northern Territory community today for the 81st anniversary of the bombing of Darwin a very significant event in our nation's history when the Second World War came to our shores when people civilians, military, United States personnel as well, people from other countries, all here in Darwin, seeking refuge, as Singapore had just fallen days earlier, became the victim of the bombing raids conducted by the Japanese on that fateful morning and it continued across the north of Australia for nearly a year or so more after that point. Hitting Port Hedland and Wyndham and Townsville, so many other places across the north of Australia, but it started here in Darwin. And it was a tremendous shock. Sometimes the first anyone knew that this raid had started was hearing those bombs go off. We started today with the ceremony for those that gave their lives in USS Peary, one of the United States battle fleet that was here in Darwin at that time. And of course, we just had this tremendous ceremony with the reenactments performed by our Australian Defence Force personnel to bring home 81 years later, the gravity of that attack for the personnel involved, for the civilians in the Darwin community, but for our country, as well. As people heard on the radio from all parts of Australia that the Australian mainland had become part of the Second World War, being attacked itself and really brought home in a way that was even more serious than it was before just what we confronted at that time. And as Luke mentioned earlier, of course, we are now facing some of the most serious geostrategic circumstances that we have since that time. And that's why the work of the Reviewers in the Defence Strategic Review has been so important. Government's now received that report, and we are going through its recommendations to produce a response which will be coming out a bit later this year, about how we will be responding to the new geostrategic circumstances that we face across the country in our region. And we look forward to producing that response in the not too distant future.

JOURNALIST: Do you see similarities between the geopolitical situation from 1941-42 to the present day?

KEOGH: I think many people have drawn some analogies between what we saw in the late 1930s and the geostrategic circumstances that we confront in our region today. Obviously, we all push towards diplomatic solutions and engagement in a positive way in our region and beyond. And that's what we always seek to do. But we also need to make sure that we are best prepared as well. That's what the Defence Strategic Review is about. Making sure that we're placing Australia on the absolute best footing for our national interest in the circumstances that we may confront.

JOURNALIST: What do you anticipate Darwin’s role to be?

KEOGH: Well, I'm not going to foreshadow what's in the Defence Strategic Review or what the government's response to that will be. But as the Member for Solomon, Luke Gosling has pointed out, Darwin plays a crucial role right now, in its basing and its support in the way in which we engage with our United States Allies, and have their rotations coming through the north of Australia, as well. And Darwin will continue to play an important part in our strategic posture into the region.

JOURNALIST: Minister if this event is so important, so significant, why couldn’t the Prime Minister be bothered to turn up?

KEOGH: Well, it's absolutely my honor. It's the first time that this occasion has occurred since we came into Government to be here as the Minister for Veterans, and the Minister for Defence Personnel. And this is, of course, an event, of deep significance for our Defence personnel and our veterans. And it's been lovely to be able to meet with family members who had personnel engaged in the conflict here in Darwin, some of whom were engaged on that very fateful day that we've just commemorated today. 81 years ago, I had a great uncle who was sent here after those bombings because of the ongoing raids in the north of Australia. And I know many Australians have a connection to what has occurred here 81 years ago today, but also the raids that continued to occur after that point. And so it is a very important day that we observe across the nation. And as the Minister for Veterans Affairs and Defence Personnel it’s a great honour to be here today.

JOURNALIST: Just on that, last year when Anthony Albanese was trying to win in the Northern Territory, ensure his Senator was elected he was happy to come. This year he hasn’t bothered to turn up, why is that?

KEOGH: Well, I don't accept the characterisation of what you said.

JOURNALIST: So why didn't he come?

KEOGH: Well, I'm here on behalf of the Prime Minister, as the Minister, that is relevant for commemorations across the country, as I have been doing since I became the Minister. And I'm very honored to be here representing the Australian Government because this is an important event, as there are many important events that occur across the country that have various different times that overlap. And that's why I'm very honored to be here today.

JOURNALIST: What role will more Marines coming into the Northern Territory play in this review that’s expected to be released?

KEOGH: Well I'm not going to go into the content of the review or foreshadow what the Government's response to that will be, which will come out in a few months time. But obviously, having the Marine presence here, rotating through the Northern Territory is incredibly important for our relationship with the United States. Incredibly important for our posture and the posture of the United States into the region, which we sit, we do a lot of training exercises with them and coordinate with them as well, which of course enhances their capability in the region and enhances our capability, operating as an Australian Defence Force, especially in that area of interoperability with our most important strategic ally, the United States and as that presence changes over time, we can only grow that interoperability and that enhancement of our capability along with theirs.

GOSLING: Thank you.

END

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling provides 24/7 free confidential crisis support for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families on 1800 011 046 or the Open Arms website. Safe Zone Support provides anonymous counselling on 1800 142 072. Defence All-Hours Support Line provides support for ADF personnel on 1800 628 036 or the Defence Health Portal. Defence Member and Family Helpline provides support for Defence families on 1800 624 608