The Project

WALEED ALY: Warships, what are they good for. To help us understand why I just asked that we are joined by Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne. Minister, if it’s not oil – if it’s definitely not oil – what is wrong with these ships?

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Well, there are two landing helicopter docks or helicopter carriers if you like. One of them was discovered to have a propulsion problem when it was out on manoeuvres and to check whether the other one had the same issues. That was looked at. It was found to have the same issues. So, both are being fixed in routine maintenance programs, as is normally the case. It certainly had nothing to do with oil. I don't know where that story came from.

WALEED ALY: Sure, but the question is what is it if it’s not oil? We've heard various things from an electrical problem, to there being an issue with them just being overused, like thrashed out on the water or something. Have you- do you know? Do you have any idea what the problem really is?

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Yeah, that's what I said. A problem with their propulsion system, which is the system that makes them move, if you like. So we know exactly what the problem is and the problem is being fixed in Garden Island as we speak.

WALEED ALY: But you don't know what caused them?

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: I just told you there is a problem with the propulsion system.

WALEED ALY: [Interrupts] No, that's the problem. What caused that problem is what I’m trying to get to?

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Well, I’m sure the engineers in the maintenance yards at Garden Island will work out exactly why what's the case.

FIFI BOX: I mean, Christopher, it is a bit of a big stuff up, really. I mean, how do we spend $3 billion and this happens?

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Look, it’s not a big stuff up. It’s a very minor problem that is being beaten up out of all proportion. We have many other ships of the line that are in practice right now out on the seas and these will be fixed.

WALEED ALY: So, we're being told they could be out of action for at least six months. When do you think they'll be back in action?

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Well, I doubt that very much. As I said, Waleed, it’s not a major problem. Ships are very complicated vessels. They aren’t something that just works perfectly all the time. They need to be maintained and sustained. Sometimes things go wrong with them and when that happens we fix them and put them back out on the water and that's exactly what’s happening with this.

WALEED ALY: But you don't have a timeframe on that at this stage?

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: No.

TOMMY LITTLE: Minister, I want to ask you what's the warranty situation on a warship? I mean, I remember when I bought my Commodore wagon I got two years on that. Is it similar?

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Well, we have all sorts of contracts with the people who build these various vessels for us and we'll be talking to them. All the people who do the maintenance and sustainment of the major vessels in the navy all have long-term contracts. We don't drive them into a service station and get a quote and ask them to have a quick look at it and see how much it's going to cost us because there's a bang, bang, bang under the bonnet. We have all sorts of proper contracts and maintenance contracts that last for decades into the future, and this will be fixed just like every other piece of equipment in the Defence Forces.

CARRIE BICKMORE: Minister, you are joining us on Anzac Day, and I understand that you lost a great uncle at the Gallipoli landing who was just 19 – is that right?

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: That's exactly right. So, I had two great uncles that went to the war and didn't come back. Great-uncle Patrick, who was killed on the first day in the landing at Gallipoli, and great-uncle Octavius, who was killed at the Battle of the Somme a couple of years later. And today at the War Memorial, Private Patrick Pyne as he was called, his citation is being read out at the service they hold every night at the War Memorial, which is a great privilege. And obviously, I’m very proud of his service and the service of my father, who fought in Korea – where he was a medical captain. And so, Anzac Day is a very important day in the Pyne household.

CARRIE BICKMORE: Well, you know, just being 19 you reflect on just how young they all were and for you as a father, I'm sure it takes on new meaning as well?

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: Look, it’s ridiculous that anybody so young could be cut down in their prime, in fact, even before they’ve reached their prime. I saw- I found great-uncle Patrick's grave in Beach Cemetery last year when I was travelling with my family, and just completely by surprise. It was fate that led me there and it was a very overwhelming moment for me. But the thing that really struck me, was that 19-year-olds had so much ahead of them, and not just Patrick, but thousands, tens of thousands of people like him from Australia who never got to live their lives and it’s something we have to avoid happening in the future.

WALEED ALY: Minister, thank you so much for your time tonight.

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: It’s a pleasure. Thank you.