Colin Boyce (Flynn, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

OYCE () (): Last week, with my fellow Central Queensland colleagues, I called on the federal government to consider Central Queensland as home to Australia's first nuclear submarine base, specifically in the Gladstone region, following the announcement that Australia will have eight nuclear submarines as part of the AUKUS nuclear submarine program. Central Queensland would be an ideal location for Australia's first nuclear submarine base. Gladstone's deepwater port provides the opportunity for quick responses to evolving situations, as a rapid resupply point for nuclear submarines. Unlike the ports of Brisbane, Newcastle and Port Kembla, Gladstone port is not part foreign owned. Port Alma, nearby, is the principal port for handling large quantities of class 1 explosives on the Australian east coast. The ADF has already identified the need to develop further bases in northern Australia in the interests of national security. Central Queensland already has the infrastructure in place to support Defence in our region, including Shoalwater Bay Training Area and Rockhampton Airport, already used for large-scale military exercises. There is no doubt that Central Queensland has the infrastructure and capabilities to support the Australian Defence Force into the future. With Port Kembla's Labor branches saying they don't want nuclear submarines, it's an opportunity to show everyone that the Central Queensland region is willing to stand up and say yes to the benefits of stationing new submarines in Gladstone.