Well we are eighteen months into Government, it has been a busy eighteen months. We have all been busy of course pursuing our reform agenda, implementing our election promises and in particular and more recently dealing with the largest global recession in at least seventy five years. So it has been a busy time and Defence has not been exempt from that busyness.

I firstly acknowledge the kind invitation from the Center for a New American Security Thank Richard Danzig, Chairman of the Board for the Center, for his introduction. Richard’s distinguished career in government service is a huge asset to the Center.

As the sun sank beneath the horizon on November 19 1941, the German survivors of the raider Kormoran watched their enemy fade from view. HMAS Sydney II was being torn apart by explosions.  The witnesses that evening ...

Address to the Property Council of Australia Newcastle Town Hall 10 October 2008

Governor Muladi, distinguished Lemhannas staff and students, honoured guests. It gives me great pleasure to be able address you today on ‘Challenges for Australian Defence in the Contemporary Security Environment’. Australia and Indonesia have been close engagement partners for many years; in fact, it goes back to when Australia supported Indonesia's independence from the Netherlands in the 1940s

Thank you to the University for the opportunity to give the inaugural Barton Lecture. While more than 100 years separate us, as the Members for Hunter, Sir Edmund and I share a common bond. I think it’s ...

Good evening. Good evening. A scathing report on last year's horse flu outbreak has claimed its first scalp. The boss of the quarantine service has stood aside after an inquiry slammed the organisation for systematic failures, understaffing and bureaucrat ...

Good morning ladies and gentlemen It is an honour and privilege to have been invited by the AE2 Commemorative Foundation to formally open the Joint Workshop on the Future Management of HMAS AE2, the Silent Anzac.  With me ...

Few of us here knew them, certainly not me. Yet we come here in our thousands to honour them for who they were, what they were and what they gave. And today we think of all of them, whether they wore the uniform of Australia, New Zealand, England, France of the Turkish people. We stand in awe of their courage, commitment and sacrifices.

It’s a great priviledge to have this opportunity to address you all at the main Australian memorial at Gallipoli on this most special day in the hearts of Australians.  The memorial before you commemorates not only the ...

Last Saturday, like every day since we lost Trevor, was a tough one for the Drayton family.  However, John mustered the strength to call me and pay me two great compliments. First, he asked me to read to ...