Push to bolster defence investment in Cairns
DEFENCE INVESTMENT
Expansion of HMAS Cairns, the establishment of an Office of the Pacific, and a commitment to grow the navy’s maintenance program in Cairns are key recommendations of Council’s submission to the Defence Strategic Review.
The Federal Government commissioned the Defence Strategic Review to identify where future defence investment should be prioritised to meet the nation’s security challenges through to 2033 and beyond.
Council’s submission to the review prosecutes the case for further defence investment in the region, citing the city’s strategically important location.
“The submission outlines that the development and expansion of maritime, land and aviation defence capabilities in the north – and Cairns in particular – will not only support the future growth and diversity of our economy, but will also bring increased security to the nation,” Cr Manning said.
“In recent times, we have seen increased posturing and manoeuvring by major powers, and with the possibility of foreign military bases in the Indo-Pacific, the importance of our region for Australia’s national security cannot be overstated.
“With an existing defence presence, coupled with its geographical location, Cairns is already important to Defence operations as a forward operating base for forces deployed into the Indo-Pacific.
“This submission makes key recommendations for investment in areas that will expand the north’s capability and bolster Australia’s national security, which will provide an economic boost to the region.”
In preparing the submission, Cairns Regional Council worked in collaboration with Townsville City Council and Charters Towers Regional Council to ensure that each council’s position complemented, rather than competed, providing Defence with a clear understanding of the need for investment in North Queensland.
The submission was developed following extensive engagement and consultation with industry representatives and stakeholders, including Dr John Coyne, head of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s Northern Australia Strategic Policy Centre, and former chief of the Australian Army, retired Lieutenant General John Grey AC.
Council built its submission around four key themes, that Defence:
- Build commercial viability through long-term commitments and anchor tenancies
- Build enterprise capability through workforce utilisation and sovereign supply chain development and procurement
- Facilitate enabling infrastructure through transparent communication around future Defence need
- Collaborate closely with industry, State and Local Governments to tackle systemic issues such as skill shortages and supply chain resilience.
The need to substantially expand HMAS Cairns to accommodate the expected ‘surge’ support required for larger, more frequent Royal Australian Navy and allied ships patrolling the Indo-Pacific was identified in Council’s submission, as was the need to establish an Office of the Pacific in Cairns to drive the implementation of Australia’s Pacific Engagement strategy.
The submission also called for a commitment to developing long-term strategic, commercial arrangements, to incentivise growth of the Cairns marine and aviation precincts, both critical supply chain partners for the navy’s Regional Maintenance Centre North East.