Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Back for his question, his interest and his attendance today at ADFA for the launch of the white paper. As the senator observed, earlier today was the official release of the defence white paper. That was done in conjunction with an integrated investment plan and a new defence industry policy statement. Our nation has extraordinary opportunities for great prosperity and development over the coming decades—that is absolutely true. At the same time, we face very complex security challenges and, indeed, growing uncertainty in our strategic environment.

In the Indo-Pacific region, we are in a period of unprecedented transformation as the balance of economic and political power shifts both within and, in fact, to our region. What this white paper does is present to the nation the Turnbull government's strategy for our nation's future defence and security, and it is the right strategy for a modern Australia in an increasingly complex world. Our strategy and our plans are underpinned by an in-depth assessment of Australia's long-term strategic outlook. In the presentation that we have made today, we have, in fact, presented the most comprehensive defence white paper in Australia's history. What it does is set out the government's commitment to realign defence strategy, capability and resourcing. Most importantly, it will deliver to Australia a more capable, agile and potent Australian Defence Force, which will be ready to respond wherever Australia's interests are engaged—whether that is here within our region or, more broadly, internationally. Given the breadth of our activity at the moment, it very aptly demonstrates the need for this assessment and the timeliness of the 2016 Defence white paper.