











PRIME MINISTER





SECURING THE NORTH WEST SHELF

I am pleased to announce today a number of initiatives directed to enhancing security for  the North West Shelf environment.

The North West Shelf is one of Australia’s most valuable resources. Its projects generate  billions of dollars worth of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports every year and its  infrastructure includes some of the largest oil and gas platforms in the world.

The economic importance of the North West Shelf has increased and will continue to  grow over time. An example of this is the 25 year, $25 billion LNG contract that was  signed in 2002 between the Woodside Petroleum-operated North West Shelf Venture and  the Chinese Government.

The North West Shelf is a strategic national asset that we are committed to protect,  particularly in times of global uncertainty.

A re-elected Coalition Government will buy two additional Armidale Class Patrol Boats  to enable the Royal Australian Navy to provide dedicated surveillance and monitoring of  the NWS. The patrol boats will provide an enhanced quick reaction capability to respond  to potential threats, including terrorist attack, and will add to the Navy’s overall border  protection capabilities.

The Department of Defence is currently acquiring 12 Armidale Class Patrol Boats, from  Defence Maritime Services and its subcontractor, Austal Limited.

If re-elected the Coalition Government will enter into negotiations with these companies  for the purchase of the two additional patrol boats.

Assuming these negotiations are concluded on an acceptable basis, the vessels will be  constructed at the shipyard of Austal Limited in Henderson, Western Australia.

The patrol boats will be permanently based at Dampier or Port Hedland to ensure they are  located near the North West Shelf.

In addition to the potential security and economic benefits this initiative will bring to the  North West Shelf the acquisition of the additional patrol boats from Defence Maritime  Services and Austal Limited will result in significant benefits for the Western Australian  economy, including employment generation and skills creation and retention.

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The permanent basing of the boats in Dampier or Port Hedland will result in additional  expenditure in the area, particularly in relation to through-life support and maintenance  for the patrol boats and the transport and accommodation for the patrol boat crews.

As another initiative, the Coalition Government will also invite the leading defence  companies Northrop Grumman and General Atomics to participate in a trial to assess the  maritime surveillance potential of their Global Hawk and Mariner Unmanned Aerial  Vehicles (UAVs) and determine the ability of UAV's to operate with the patrol boats to  protect the North West Shelf environment.

It is intended that the UAV trial will take place next year, with the vehicles to be operated  from RAAF Base Learmonth, near Exmouth Western Australia. The mission control  element of the trial will be located in Adelaide at the Defence Science and Technology  Organisation’s Salisbury facility or at RAAF base Edinburgh.

Together with the existing surveillance and operational assets in the region operated by  Coastwatch, Customs, and the Australian Defence Force, these new initiatives will  substantially enhance the security of the North West Shelf.

These additional security measures will demonstrate to the North West Shelf’s major  customers that the Coalition Government is willing to dedicate the resources required to  secure the supply of natural resources in the area. Additional security will enhance the  attraction of the North West Shelf’s reserves relative to competing international sites,  improving the prospect of further commercial development of the North West Shelf.



This initiative highlights the commitment of the Coalition Government to securing  Australia’s borders and defending its national interests.



16 September 2004









