About David
David served in the Australian Defence Force for over 22 years. An Army pilot, he flew helicopters and fixed wing aircraft and was the Senior Flying Instructor at the School of Army Aviation in Queensland.
Graduating as an experimental test pilot from the Empire Test Pilots’ School (UK), he finished his full time career in Defence as the Commanding Officer of the RAAF Aircraft Research and Development Unit.
Elected to the House of Representatives as the Member for Wakefield (SA) in 2004, he served in the Parliament until 2007. David continued to fly as a test pilot and ran a small business working in the Defence and Aviation sectors prior to being elected to the Senate in 2010, 2016 and again in 2019.
In the (45th) Parliament, David was sworn as the Assistant Minister for Defence.
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HISTORICAL ROCKET LAUNCH TESTAMENT TO FORMER LIBERAL GOVERNMENT’s INVESTMENT IN SPACE SECTOR![]()
The first commercial space launch in Australia's history, and NASA's first rocket launch from a commercial spaceport outside of the US, took place early yesterday morning out of Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA)’s Arnhem Space Centre ![]()
This facility will be the site for 3 NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration launches during June and July.![]()
The Australian and South Australian space sector is continuing to benefit from the former Federal Liberal Government’s substantial investment in our sovereign space industry.![]()
Australia’s relationship with NASA was strengthened through the former Federal Liberal Government’s NASA agreement in October 2021 for Australian businesses and researchers to develop an Australian-made rover for their Moon mission - supported by a $50 million investment. More information: bit.ly/3FFvch2![]()
Space was one of 6 priorities under our former Government’s $2.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy (MMS). More information on the MMS: bit.ly/3KPXw1L![]()
Since the former Coalition Government established the Australian Space Agency (ASA), we committed $800 million to growing the civil space sector, through programs like the Moon to Mars Initiative, the Space Infrastructure Fund and the International Space Investment Initiative. Our government also committed a further $7 billion, over the decade, to developing Defence’s space capabilities. ![]()
In March, the former Federal Liberal Government matched the $20 million investment of the former Marshall State Government in SA’s Australian Space Park – Australia’s first dedicated space manufacturing hub – taking the total joint Federal-State government investment to $40 million for the $66 million facility. ![]()
Through the 2021/22 Federal Budget, $13.3 million was invested into the ASA's Space Discovery Centre at Lot Fourteen in Adelaide.
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NASA successfully launches first rocket from Australian soil in more than 25 years
www.abc.net.au
In a historic moment, NASA has launched a rocket from remote Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, marking the first commercial space launch in Australia's history.Comment on Facebook
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MILESTONE IN VICKERS VIMY RELOCATION TO ADELAIDE AIRPORT TERMINAL
The Vickers Vimy aircraft restoration and relocation project reached a new milestone this week – the aircraft was lowered onto new stands in its final position. ![]()
This is the same aircraft that South Australian brothers Sir Ross and Keith Smith flew 103 years ago, to take pride of place in the new expanded Adelaide Airport terminal.![]()
Requiring significant planning, the aircraft had to be dismantled to be moved from its former home into the terminal, and moved in 3 parts before being reconstructed in place.![]()
This relocation project was made possible through a $4 million joint contribution from the former Federal Liberal and State Liberal Governments, alongside $2 million in private investment from the Adelaide Airport.![]()
In December 2019, we marked the 100th anniversary since the Smith Brothers piloted a modified ‘Vickers Vimy’ bomber from England to Australia (Hounslow-Darwin) and won the 1919 Great Air Race. It took the crew 27 days and 20 hours to make the journey and claim the Australian Government’s £10,000 prize – the first successful flight of its kind. Sir Ross Smith, who led the team, was joined by his brother Keith (also a pilot) along with mechanics James Bennett and Wally Shiers. More information on the Smith Brothers’ achievement: epicflightcentenary.com.au/articles/
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CHINOOK FLEET EXPANDS TO 14, WITH DELIVERY OF 2 NEW HELICOPTERS
Two additional CH-47F Chinook helicopters arrived at RAAF Base Townsville on Thursday, taking the total size of the Australian Army Aviation Command’s CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopter fleet to 14.![]()
The former Federal Liberal Government delivered a $595 million investment to acquire 4 new CH-47F Chinook helicopters – with the first 2 helicopters have already arrived from the US in July 2021. More information: bit.ly/3B2Evp9![]()
Australia’s defence capability is continuing to benefit from the former Federal Liberal Government’s record investment.![]()
The fleet of Boeing-built heavy-lift helicopters is flown by the Army’s 5th Aviation Regiment, 16th Aviation Brigade at RAAF Base Townsville.![]()
The Boeing Company Australia provides the CH-47F through-life support, under a contract which was extended until 2025. The sustainment services are carried out locally by Boeing Defence Australia, with most work delivered from Townsville and Oakey.![]()
As the Assistant Minister for Defence in March 2019, I visited RAAF Townsville to announced the $49.9 million project to extend the facilities used to house the ADF’s F-Model Chinooks. These funds built 2 new shelters, as well as some logistic support facilities, additional hard-stand tarmac areas and workspace accommodation for personnel who operate the Chinook helicopters.![]()
The Chinook fleet has played a vital role in recent missions including Operation Bushfire Assist during the Black Summer Bushfires, as well as Operation Tonga Assist and Operation QLD/NSW Flood Assist in 2022.
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Army receives two new CH-47F Chinook helicopters
www.defenceconnect.com.au
Boeing has delivered two of four additional Chinook helicopters, ordered by Defence earlier this year. The Australian Army’s fleet of CH-47F Chinook helicopters has expanded to 12, with Boeing deComment on Facebook
Vietnam carriwrs not weapon capable
This week, I met with representatives from South Australian defence industry and Defence at the SA Aerospace and Information Warfare Forum (AIWF) held in the Adelaide Convention Centre.![]()
The AIWF is an industry exhibition of 50+ defence primes and SMEs, youth and engineering associations, plus government and academia – hosted by Defence SA.![]()
As a result of the former Federal Liberal Government’s record investment in Australia’s defence capability, the South Australian defence industry is growing in size, capability and reputation. The Liberal Government committed $270 billion over the decade for investment in new and upgraded capabilities. By the end of this decade, 15,000 Australians are expected to be employed in the shipbuilding enterprise alone, with 5,000 of those in SA, as a result of our investment in defence.![]()
One of AIWF exhibitors was Cobham Aviation Services (Cobham Aviation Services - recruitment) – a great example of an Australian team collaborating with other Australian companies to develop sovereign capability which is being used to protect our national interests.![]()
Cobham is a leading specialist aviation operator, which conducts aerial border surveillance and search-and-rescue operations, among other work. Cobham’s fleet of Dash-8 surveillance aircraft and their crew are used to conduct airborne surveillance and search-and-rescue operations for the Australian Government.![]()
I spoke with Cobham’s Business Development Director, Anthony Patterson at AIWF who I’ve known for a number of years as a long-standing contributor to SA’s defence industry.![]()
Cobham’s partnership with SA-based Acacia Systems led to the development of Australia’s world leading Mission Management Systems (MMS) – an important sovereign capability which has proven more capable and reliable than most overseas MMS technology.![]()
In March, Acacia extended their existing partnership to collaborate on a Dash-8 fleet modification project, with aircraft integration work commencing in February at Cobham’s aircraft maintenance facility near Adelaide Airport. The project upgrades critical technology on board Cobham’s fleet of Dash-8 aircraft and within the ground operations command centre. More information: bit.ly/3Cjt3WZ![]()
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Employers who support staff to take leave in order to serve in the Defence Reserves play a key role in enabling the ADF to protect Australia and its interests. I joined Brigadier Graham Goodwin CSC, Commander of the 9th Brigade, last night at a reception to thank both reservists and their employers. ... See MoreSee Less
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By law they have to if my memory serves me correctly.
Acacia Systems is an exemplar of an Australian sovereign defence SME. On Tuesday, I met with Founder and Chairman of Acacia, Ted Huber, and CEO, Horden Wilshire, for an update on some next-generation capabilities they are developing.![]()
Based in SA, the company has a long track record of developing world-leading tracking and display systems that deliver vital combat capability for our ADF. Part of their update, the team provided a brief on new capabilities – combining the power of unmanned systems, machine learning and advanced data processing. I was particularly impressed with the progress made on their ‘RefleX’ mission records and data management system. This upgraded software is being re-deployed aboard the Collins Class submarine fleet and has been integrated into an allied Navy’s shore-based submarine combat system simulator. RefleX allows our ADF personnel to capture and visualise different elements of mission data, review their performance and optimise mission performance. ![]()
Acacia Systems also contribute to C4 EDGE (Evolutionary Digital Ground Environment) – a defence industry collaboration between 31 Australian small-to-medium sized businesses established to design, develop and manufacture a C4 (command control communications and computers) capacity proof-of-concept for the Australian Army. More information: bit.ly/33yKeGW![]()
In March, Acacia partnered with Cobham Aviation Special Mission (Cobham Aviation Services - recruitment) on a Dash-8 fleet modification project, with aircraft integration work commencing in February at Cobham’s aircraft maintenance facility near Adelaide Airport.![]()
The project sees the extension of the existing partnership between Acacia and Cobham – upgrading critical technology on board Cobham’s fleet of Dash-8 surveillance aircraft and within the ground operations command centre. Cobham’s fleet of Dash-8 aircraft and their crew are used to conduct airborne surveillance and search-and-rescue operations for the Australian Government. More information: bit.ly/3Cjt3WZ![]()
The existing partnership between Acacia and Cobham led to the development of Australia’s first Mission Management Systems (MMS) – an important sovereign capability which has proven more capable and reliable than most overseas MMS technology.![]()
I will continue to make the case that Government must prioritise contracts with those elements of Australia’s defence industry that are fundamental to maintaining a resilient national security capability.
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