1 THE FAWCETT FLYER JUNE/JULY 2020 APRIL 2018 Over the last couple months, the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact 1 on Australia and our economy is beginning to be realised, with growing debt, unemployment and business closures. The Government is working to find the optimal balance of economic recovery and health outcomes. In much of Australia, including South Australia, case numbers have slowed to a very manageable level. However, the state of Victoria, and to a lesser extent New South Wales, are showing us just how quickly an outbreak can occur. Witnessing the damage caused by a second wave – visible in ongoing outbreaks – we cannot allow ourselves to become complacent as a result of our success here in South Australia. Tackling Australia’s longer term response to health throughout regional Australia is newly appointed National Rural Health Commissioner, Associate Professor Ruth Stewart. Associate Professor Stewart has begun to support the Government’s ongoing rural response to COVID-19, while also examining the impact on health workforce planning in regional, rural and remote communities. I would like to thank the inaugral Rural Health Commissioner, Emeritus Professor Paul Worley, who has served since 2017. His tireless work greatly contributed to improving rural health policy, including the development of the National Rural Generalist Pathway – the first program of its kind in the world – which is changing the way we train doctors, giving them the ability to handle the extra responsibilities that come from working in a regional practice. While on the topic of new appointments, I would like to congratulate the 7 South Australian Liberal Party Legislative Council candidates – the Hon Michelle Lensink MLC, the Hon Dennis Hood MLC, Nicola Centofanti MLC, Laura Curran, Heidi Girolamo, Kathleen Bourne and Tania Stock – nominated to contest Upper House seats at the next SA State Election. Several significant announcements and changes at a federal level have occurred recently, including the release of the 2020 Defence Strategic Update and Force Structure Plan. I go into greater depth regarding what this means for Australia’s national security and defence presence in our region on Page 5. Developments also include the Australian Government’s investment in our cyber security (Page 8) and the strengthening of Australia’s foreign investment framework (Page 7). For more information on these changes or another matter of a Federal nature, please contact my office via the details available on the back cover. Kind regards, SENATOR DAVID FAWCETT JUNE/JULY 2020 GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT 2 GROWING SPACE AND DEFENCE Significant Australian Government defence program utilising local SA investment in the defence and manufacturing capability. space industries has formed the foundation upon which a number of A $1.1 billion contract was secured developments have occurred within in June by Thales Australia to supply South Australia in recent months. the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with 30,000 strategic munitions – In June, BlueScope Steel signed guaranteed to be manufactured a contract with ASC Shipbuilding locally and generating approximately - a subsidiary of BAE Systems 100 jobs. Australia and lead contractor for the $35 billion Hunter Class Frigates The Government has also Program – to deliver steel plate for committed to purchase an additional the construction of 5 ship blocks 8,500 Australian-made EF88 rifles in the Frigate’s initial prototyping offering improved range, accuracy, phase. This upholds ASC’s and reduced system weight for ADF commitment to use Australian steel personnel. and secures local jobs along the supply chain. This month, I had the pleasure of visiting Supashock’s Holden Hill Also partnering with BAE Systems, facility (pictured, above), where a new SA-based Axiom Precision missile launcher - the Retractable Manufacturing has been tasked with Anti-tank Missile Platform (RAMP) machining complex components - has been pioneered. Supashock for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint is an exemplar of the ongoing Strike Fighter Program – a global development of Australia’s sovereign THE FAWCETT FLYER defence industry, delivering world various grant programs, includes 3 class capability – like the RAMP funding for cutting-edge technology – for our ADF, creating new and projects to be developed by SA innovative technology produced companies X-Tek and Human here in SA. Supashock also Aerospace. XTek, in conjunction contributed their expertise and with Skykraft, has been awarded parts to recently completed LAND $878,193 for the design, 121 Phase 5B program. development, and manufacture of a carbon fibre launch structure In response to changing strategic capable of deploying constellations circumstances, the Australian of microsatellites. Receiving Government’s $270 billion $844,000, Human Aerospace will investment in defence capability develop space-suit technology to over the next 10 years will enhance combat the negative health impacts our ability to deter aggression and of long-term space missions. respond with force, if required. These grants demonstrate Federal It also continues to create and support for local SMEs to create sustain local jobs, driving economic jobs and engage with SA’s rapidly recovery and delivering world-class growing space sector, including for defence assets. (More on Page 5) upcoming NASA missions. Expected to triple in size by 2030 As home of the Osborne Naval and create up to 20,000 new jobs, Shipyard, the future ASA Missions the Australian Government has also Control Centre, and leading SMEs invested almost $700 million in two in technology and manufacturing, years towards the Australian space SA is a frontrunner in defence sector. A sizeable portion of this and space innovation through investment has been delivered to industry expertise and capability South Australia – as the home of the supported by the Federal and State Australian Space Agency (ASA). The Governments. $26 million investment in the ASA allocated $6 million – alongside $2.5 To keep up-to-date on Federal million from the State Government investment in defence and space – for the ASA Missions Control and industry, visit my Facebook page Space Discovery Centre to be built here or via the QR Code below. in Adelaide by Saber Astronautics by early 2021. Federal Government investment, delivered by the ASA through JUNE/JULY 2020 COMMITTEE 4 The Joint Standing Committee on is required to review amendmentsUPDATE Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade’s to the Telecommunications and (JSCFADT) Inquiry into implications Other Legislation Amendment of the COVID-19 pandemic for (Assistance and Access) Act 2018. Australia’s foreign affairs, defence A public hearing was held via video and trade continues. Context for conference to hear from Atlassian this Inquiry is available in the last and the Software Alliance, among edition of the Fawcett Flyer. The others, on their perspectives Committee is considering the regarding the legislation as well need for a systemic approach to as closed hearings with agencies. identifying and managing risk, to Other PJCIS inquiries include a ensure that Australia has resilience review into the effectiveness of the across key enablers such as our ASIO Amendment Bill 2020, and health, transport, food, and defence an inquiry into the impact of the sectors. Witnesses at the Inquiry’s exercise of law enforcement and June and July public hearings intelligence powers on the freedom included academics, government of the press. agencies and non-governmental organisations. As Chair of the Environment and Communications Legislation JSCFADT’s Defence Sub- Committee, I held public hearings in Committee has been asked to July for the Inquiries into ‘The future of consider Australia’s defence Australia Post’s service delivery’, and relationships with Pacific Island ‘Product Stewardship Amendment nations – one of several Sub- (Packaging and Plastics) Bill 2019’, Committee Inquiries into Australia’s and the References Committee connection with the Pacific. This held hearings for the Inquiry into the Inquiry held public hearings in ‘Impact of feral deer, pigs and goats both June and July which included in Australia’. experts from the Australian National University, the Lowy Institute, and For an update on any completed DFAT, among others. This Inquiry inquiry or one currently before a comes at a unique and challenging parliamentary committee, click here time, with Australia’s support – both or scan the QR Code below. financial and functional – proving critical to our wider Pacific family. As a member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS), the Committee THE FAWCETT FLYER 5 IN OUR REGION: AUSTRALIA’S NEW DEFENCE OUTLOOK Australia’s security environment is norms of international cooperation. changing rapidly, with militarisation, Threats to human security, such disruptive technological change and as the Coronavirus pandemic and grey zone threats making our region natural disasters, mean disaster less safe. Our region, the Indo- response and resilience measures Pacific, is in the midst of the most demand a higher priority in Defence consequential strategic realignment planning. since World War II. In response to these dynamic Though still unlikely, the prospect threats, Prime Minister Scott of high intensity military conflict Morrison announced a Strategic throughout the region is less remote Update and revisions to Australia’s than in the past. Australia can no Defence Force Structure (pictured, longer assume