PRIME MINISTER: Well, good evening, everyone. You may know me as that fellow down under. But I thank Annabelle for that very warm introduction. Can I also thank Lachlan and Sarah, who is here tonight, for their generous support of this evening. To Mark and all the team at the Centre. And can I especially start tonight by acknowledging the Ngunnawal people. Can I thank all of those who are here present tonight. Can I thank the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and acknowledge their elders past, present and emerging. Can I also acknowledge, as I always do, our veterans and members of our Defence forces who are here tonight. And can I also acknowledge those from the United States and their Defence forces, or any veterans of the United States who are here tonight and simply say thank you for your service, for your valour. To the combined allied forces of the United States Studies Centre, the American Australian Association, the Perth USAsia Centre, thank you all for the work you've done to finally bring this night together. Also I acknowledge the leader of the opposition, Anthony Albanese, who is here this evening. My many ministerial colleagues, in particular the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is here this evening, Marise Payne, and my many other colleagues who join us on this important occasion. Can I of course acknowledge former Prime Minister John Howard. You will not find a greater champion of the Alliance than former Prime Minister John Howard. And it's a great pleasure to have you joining us here this evening on this very important night. Can I also acknowledge the many ambassadors who are here tonight, former ambassadors to the United States and indeed, I'm sure there'll be perhaps some who have served here in the U.S. Embassy here in Australia. Particularly, can I acknowledge Joe Hockey, who is here and immediately preceded Arthur Sinodinos, who is obviously on the job tonight over there in the United States. And Joe, none of us will ever forget the tremendous reception we had when I visited the United States in 2019.
Colleagues and friends, tonight we mark, somewhat belatedly, but nevertheless importantly, the 70th anniversary of the signing of the ANZUS Treaty on the 1st of September of 1951. And though I'm reminded that ANZUS Treaty actually took effect from 29th of April 1952, we remember tonight the foresight of those who were present at the creation. Menzies, Truman, Spender, Acheson, Foster Dulles and more. Not a bad roll call of those fathers who founded this agreement. We recall and celebrate the commitment of all sides of politics to this Alliance over the past 70 years. As I said before, the ANZUS Treaty breathes and adapts to each passing generation. It has been stewarded by 14 Presidents and 14 Prime Ministers since Sir Robert Menzies. We think back to the age of peril and uncertainty that gave rise to this Treaty in the early stages of the Cold War - in the shadows of the Marshall Plan, the Communist take over Czechoslovakia, the Berlin airlift, NATO ratification and North Korea's invasion of South Korea. In the 70 years of ANZUS, Australia and the United States have stood together through thick and thin. Drawing on a relationship and proceeded it, it now goes back over 100 years, as we celebrated 100 years of mateship so recently. Elsewhere in the world tonight though, the right of a free nation to be sovereign is under attack once again in Ukraine. And is being answered by the wholehearted determination of a free people who refuse to live under tyranny. Sir Robert Menzies once spoke about what is in the bones of the people of Australia and the United States. The words were poignant when we think about our Ukrainian friends and their fight. He said, "We live in freedom and will accept no other life. We govern ourselves in democracy and will not tolerate anything less. We cherish liberty and hold it safe, providing hope for the rest of the world. We share a fear that reaches into our souls." The Alliance we honour tonight is just 11 articles and a little more than 800 words. A promise of two peoples based on trust, commitment and a willingness to sacrifice for each other. As Percy Spender, in many ways, the chief architect of ANZUS and our then Ambassador to the United States, said at the signing, "We declare to the world that our peoples share a common destiny." And that has indeed been true. This is a partnership of values, not of contract and certainly not of contradiction. It is not a relationship of transaction. It is a bond that goes deep and is ever lasting. In this age where peace, stability and prosperity can certainly not be assured, I affirm our Australian pledge: that we look to the United States but we will never leave it to the United States. We come to this partnership as equals. We come to this partnership bringing everything we have and to share it and to ensure that we can meet the challenges together. We stand in an Alliance of trust, commitment and sacrifice. An Alliance that continues to be renewed for our times.
Over the past eight years, Australia has been undertaking the most comprehensive expansion of our defence capability in our lifetimes. We have increased the defence budget, as a share of our economy, from 1.56 per cent of our economy to almost 2.1 per cent this year. Over the next decade, we're investing some $578 billion on defence, half of which is for enhanced defence capability. Our shared intelligence commitments represent another major pillar of the Alliance. With challenging and changing geopolitical realities - where technological advantage for our intelligence agencies is more important than ever - Australia is, as always, stepping up to do more. We look to, but we never leave it to the United States. To further bolster our intelligence partnership, I announce tonight the Government is establishing the Cyber and Critical Technology Intelligence Centre, to be led by the Office of National Intelligence. The multi-agency Centre will ensure Australia, working with our allies, can better anticipate and capitalise on emerging technologies. Working with non-government R&D partners as well, we will be able to better fund, shape and deploy cutting-edge science, research and technology to deliver better capabilities into the future. Beyond defence and intelligence, today Australia and the United States work together on a wide and expanding canvass - cyber security, space, supply chain resilience, critical minerals, quantum computing, low emissions technologies and so much more. And we're moving ahead at pace and at depth with our AUKUS partnership - a reflection of the deep trust between the United States and the United Kingdom and Australia. The most significant defence partnership agreement Australia has entered into since ANZUS itself. The acquisition of nuclear powered submarine technology through this partnership will be the generational boost to the ADF's capacity. And with our partners in the Quad, Australia and the United States are working to secure a free and open and resilience Indo-Pacific. And tonight, our quest for a world order that favours freedom has never been more urgent and it has never been more pressing. The stakes could not be higher. Beyond those doors, the lights of ANZAC Parade direct our attention to the Australian War Memorial. And a permanent reminder of the sacrifices of Australians for the freedoms that we hold dear. Ladies and Gentleman, our alliance is one choice.
And I think tonight of one such moment of choice that the alliance that we share. 18 years ago, seven sailors from the USS Firebolt were in waters off the Iraqi coast. They saw a small fishing dhow getting too close to an oil terminal and as they approached, the dhow exploded. A suicide attack on critical infrastructure. Americans capsized. Not far away, an Australian Seahawk helicopter was on patrol. And it moved quickly above the firey waters. A rescue was not possible. So a member of the crew, Ben Sime, jumped into the oily waters knowing he couldn't be winched out. And in the midst of fire, smoke, injury and chaos, Ben administered first aid in the water - and helped the wounded to a life-raft. Sadly, three Americans were killed in that attack but four survived. That night was 24 April. It was the eve of ANZAC Day. And every ANZAC Day since, Ben pauses to remember the fallen Australian and American alike. Service personnel who, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, gave "the last full measure of devotion." Warrant Officer Ben Sime, a recipient of the Medal of Gallantry, is with us tonight. We thank you, Ben. And we thank all of those who wear both the uniform of Australia and the United States. We honour all who have served under our flags. All who have fought, lived and died for freedom. Ben, comes from a long tradition. Les Bull Allen. People may know the story of Les, as he pulled 11, 11 marines off the steep decent of Mount Tambu in New Guinea during the Second World War. He was given the Silver Star and when I went to see the President, in 2019, we presented him with a bronze statue of Les Bull Allen. As Les was pictured there, immortalised in this statue, carrying that American marine up. I think that symbolises so much of what our relationship is about. There'll be times when we'll carry our American friends. And there are times when American friends will carry us. But at all times, we are carrying the values and the beliefs that we hold dear, each of us, which will always ensure that this is an alliance, that this is a friendship, this is a bond that can never be broken. And any who seek to break it will learn that at their peril. Thank you for your attention.
