F111's, Defence Chris Evans - Shadow Minister for Defence

Radio Interview with Catherine McGrath - 5 August 2003

Audio - Chris Evans on The World Today, ABC Radio (RealMedia)

ELEANOR HALL: The Federal Government is refusing to comment on speculation that it will put Australia's key long range combat aircraft, the F111, into early retirement. An options paper now before the Government recommends that the F111 be phased out from 2006 – that's 10 to 15 years earlier than planned. Defence experts say the decision is based on cost, with estimates the planes would cost half a billion dollars a year to upgrade.

In Canberra, Opposition Defence spokesman Chris Evans has been speaking to Catherine McGrath.

SENATOR EVANS: Well, our view is that it's a vital part of our air defence, and if it is to be replaced it needs to be replaced immediately with an alternative aircraft. What the Government seems to be suggesting is that because of the cost pressures as a result of defence mismanagement, that we're going to have a window when that sort of capability is not available to Australia. And we don't think that's acceptable.

They made the decision to go with a JSF, abandoning the tender for the replacement of the F1-11s. That's locked us into a timeframe that sees those aircraft not coming online probably until 2015. They've got to manage the interim and make sure our defence capability is maintained.

CATHERINE MCGRATH: Now, when you talk about the JSF, you mean the Joint Strike Fighter, due to come online at the moment at 2012, but you're predicting 2015. Do you see it as a major problem if by 2006 the F111 goes? Because a lot of analysts say that we can manage that gap for that amount of time.

SENATOR EVANS: I would be very concerned if there was a gap where we didn't have a replacement capability for the F111. I think there are management strategies in place.

But this is caused by the Government's decision to end the contract or, sorry, the tender process, and just opt for the American joint strike fighter, and if that's a problem that they've created, they need to fix it, and I don't think, given what the White Paper said about the centrality of the air defence of Australia, that we ought to accept a downgrading of our defence capability in that interim period.

CATHERINE MCGRATH: But if we look at the role of the F111, it's a reconnaissance aircraft, it's a spy aircraft, it is a bomber, but it's never been used in a conflict, it didn't go to Iraq, it's important for the spy missions that it runs over South East Asia, but surely defence planners can move around that limitation?

SENATOR EVANS: Well, it didn't go to Iraq, because that was a decision of the Government, but the point is it's been central to the air defence of Australia. It has strike capabilities of a much longer distance, and with a greater capacity to carry weapons, than our other aircraft.

CATHERINE MCGRATH: But that's never been used.

SENATOR EVANS: No, but one of the reasons why it's never been used is because of it's capability. It's recognised in the region as being the most effective strike capability in the region.

It gives us the superiority, in military terms, in the region. All our neighbours, and any potential threats to Australia understand very well the significance of the F111 and the capability of it.

CATHERINE MCGRATH: So you don't accept the argument coming from some defence analysts, that the threat to Australia at the moment is quite small to the Australian mainland from a foreign power, therefore it is a time that you can reassess that?

SENATOR EVANS: Well, the Government doesn't accept that. Their own White Paper update made it clear that despite the increased threat of terrorism, that the fundamental defence needs of Australia remain the same.

And the F111, or that air force capability, is central to the defence of Australia – much more important than our involvement in Iraq, in my view, much more central to Australian security.

And what I don't want to see is the cost of these other operations, like Iraq or the Government's bungling in terms of management of defence projects, that the cost of that is somehow our air defence. That's not acceptable.

ELEANOR HALL: Labor's Defence spokesman, Chris Evans, speaking there to Catherine McGrath.