John McVeigh (Groom, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is a great pleasure—indeed, an honour—to rise to speak in support of this motion moved by the member for Herbert in relation to the significance of small business and its integral role in the defence industry; defence industry's potential for growth, particularly in regional Australia; and the fact that the government is committed to just that. As a former resident of Townsville I understand the significance, as raised by the member for Herbert, of RAAF Base Townsville and Lavarack Barracks, and it's certainly the case in my regional electorate of Groom as well. I acknowledge the service to our country of the member for Herbert, the member for Solomon and others in this House.

The 2016 Defence white paper secured the future of two significant defence bases in the electorate of Groom on the Darling Downs, with the injection of $450 million across 20 years. Swartz Barracks at Oakey is home to the Army Aviation Training Centre, which primarily accommodates Army pilot and aircrew training activities. The Republic of Singapore Air Force helicopter squadron is also based at Oakey under agreement with the Australian government. Borneo Barracks at Cabarlah, just north of Toowoomba, accommodates the Army's deployable electronic warfare unit, the 7th Signals Regiment, and an electronic warfare operator training unit, the Defence Force School of Signals—Electronic Warfare.

The defence industry's contribution to my electorate is very significant indeed—some $117.546 million in 2018-19 in terms of military and civilian employee expenses, capital and operating expenses, capital investment and supplier expenses. I note that those contributions are exemplified by a whole range of projects underway at present. Airfield capital works of some $35.6 million are programed for expenditure during the 2019-20 financial year at the Army aviation centre at Oakey. There is also $11.7 million for Joint Health Command garrison facilities at Oakey, and support of air traffic management surveillance, command and control systems to the tune of $1.1 million during the same period.

As the federal member for Groom I've had the great honour of inspecting and witnessing ongoing investment in workshops, vehicle wash-down facilities, stores, administrative facilities, training and classroom facilities, mess buildings, accommodation—you name it—at the Borneo Barracks at Cabarlah just north of our city. That is a very significant base that impacts on Defence activities and capabilities right around the country and obviously wherever Australian defence forces are deployed around the world.

I'm also thrilled that Defence Science and Technology has two current agreements with the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba. Those opposite and all Australians should recognise the practical, on-ground works where Defence engages with our local communities and, particularly as the member for Herbert has suggested, the importance of Defence engaging with small business. I use two examples to exemplify this. FK Gardner Services in Queensland, which is a significant civil construction firm based in Toowoomba, was awarded $15.9 million in 2018-19 to provide infrastructure project management, construction, support services and repair services, particularly at Oakey, and LSM Advanced Composites will produce precision, complex, custom manufactured items using advanced composite materials to the tune of $63,000.

Whether it is the Highfields and District Business Connections, who celebrated what we do at Cabarlah; the Oakey Chamber of Commerce, who celebrated what we do, particularly the 50-year anniversary a few weeks ago of Defence in Oakey at Swartz Barracks; the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce; or the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise—these private sector representative groups recognise the importance of Defence, particularly from a small business perspective.

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