Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Macdonald for his supplementary question. As we outlined in the 2016 Defence white paper, the Turnbull government is very focused on increasing Australia's international defence engagement to further develop our international partnerships, including with our allies and partners. The CSP will particularly enhance our defence engagement through five areas: enhanced training area access and joint development of facilities; military and civilian exchange postings; new training initiatives and greater collaboration; greater intelligence sharing; and expanding our science and technology cooperation. And we heard today that Prime Minister Lee is particularly interested in this area. This will enable greater interoperability between our defence forces as well as enhancing regional stability and security. It will also deliver significant economic opportunities for the Townsville and Rockhampton regions. As Singapore's training presence increases, the demand for support services and opportunities for local businesses will also expand. (Time expired)