Teresa Gambaro (Brisbane, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I also want to add my words of support from this side of the House to Jill. I wish her well in her recovery.

Today I rise to speak about the great social and economic benefits that the defence white paper will have on my electorate of Brisbane. The government will increase defence spending by $29.9 billion over the next decade to deliver strategies and plans set out in the 2016 Defence white paper.

The white paper's Integrated Investment Program will bring an additional $50 million of investment over the next decade to 2025-26, to update and refurbish facilities at Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera, largely to support an enhanced unmanned aircraft capability based on the Shadow unmanned aircraft. In the decade from 2025-2036, additional investments of $450 million are planned for further upgrades of facilities at Gallipoli Barracks. There will also be a much-welcomed additional $66 million investment in refurbishing facilities at Victoria Barracks over the next decade.

This part of the white paper will also outline greater collaboration with the innovative private sector. This means many local businesses—including Absolute Data Group based in Spring Hill; Advanced Composite Structures Australia, based in Eagle Farm; Explosive Protection Equipment and Eripio, both based in Fortitude Valley; and reconnaissance company Insitu Pacific, as well as 100 other companies based in my electorate—will directly benefit from this closer collaboration.