Peter Lindsay (Herbert, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

This is a great day for Townsville. I was just indicating to the member for Dawson that she has an interest in this. With the new redistribution in Queensland, Dawson now comes well into areas in Townsville that are populated with defence families. You cannot underestimate the importance of this decision. I thank the Public Works Committee for its very positive report to the parliament today. I would make it clear, though, that while this program is referred to as something at RAAF Townsville it is actually an Army unit. It is 5 Aviation Regiment of the Australian Army. They are a lodger unit at RAAF Townsville and they are probably significantly bigger in size than the entire RAAF operations, so it is good to see the cooperation that occurs between Army and the Air Force.

This is a $20 million project ultimately to refurbish and to build new facilities to take the latest high-tech heavy troop lift helicopter in Townsville. Its key significance is that the MRH90 supports Townsville’s 3rd Brigade, the home of the ready deployment force for Australia. It is also a key enhancement because we have recently announced that Townsville is going to be the home of a third battalion. In fact it will be the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, who will join the 1st and 2nd Battalions at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville. That will mean a boost of another 1,500 men and women, then all the flow-on effects from that and all the new homes in the city. It just has extraordinary ramifications for the economy but also for our garrison city.

Today’s motion through the parliament underlines the importance of Townsville as a garrison city in the Commonwealth of Australia. I know that the Defence Force will, as will our city, warmly welcome the construction of these new facilities. They will certainly very much assist and enhance Australia’s capability in rotary wing aircraft. I thank the Special Minister of State for his strong support of Townsville, I thank the Public Works Committee and I thank the government for supporting the Australian Defence Force in Townsville.

Question agreed to.

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