Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Defence Strategic Review reconfirmed the centrality of northern Australia to Australia's defence posture. It emphasised the importance of improving the ADF's ability to operate from northern Australia. That's why the Albanese government has committed $3.8 billion to improve our northern bases, ports and barracks. This will create many exciting opportunities for us in the north. It will bolster our maritime capabilities and infrastructure, including through redevelopments at HMAS Coonawarra, where the offshore patrol vessels will be based. We are cracking on with building a new ship lift, which will also build on Darwin's role as a regional maintenance hub for commercial operators, as well as for the Navy, as the Australian Defence Force's Fleet Base North. The stepped-up operational tempo of Australian and allied naval deployments and visits in the coming years will create many more jobs in my electorate of Solomon, not only in the construction sector but also in the maintenance of these vessels and their crew. That's just one way that the Defence Strategic Review is delivering for the north.

I want to thank the ADF member who has been with my office this week, Lieutenant Mitch Rand. He is a great credit to the Royal Australian Navy. It's fantastic to see members of the ADF up here on the hill with all of us.