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

I particularly thank Senator Macdonald for his interest in this very important issue, not just for our defence relationship with Singapore but also for his area of northern Queensland. I was very pleased just this morning to sign a memorandum of understanding concerning military training and training area development in Australia with my Singaporean counterpart, Dr Ng. It is a major step forward following the Turnbull government's announcement in May that Australia and Singapore would jointly develop military training areas and facilities in Australia, enhancing Singapore's training opportunities. It is in direct alignment with the 2016 white paper to increase Defence's international engagement to further develop our international partnerships with our allies and our partners.

The signing of the memorandum of understanding affirms the commitment from the governments of both Australia and Singapore to take the next steps to implement this historic agreement. The MOU provides an assurance of enhancing our bilateral defence relationship and committing to these investments in North Queensland. It represents a 25-year commitment to increasing training area access and investment by the Singaporean government to upgrading military training areas.

This MOU will bring us closer as defence partners. It will generate significant local economic activity over the next 25 years. It will, importantly, complement our very close existing defence relationship with Singapore based on a long history of engagement, practical cooperation, education and training. We will, of course, continue to hold our shared interests in regional stability and security—many of the issues to which Prime Minister Lee referred in his remarks to the joint sitting of the houses yesterday. Specifically, the memorandum of understanding cements our agreement to grant Singapore enhanced access for unilateral land training from the current six weeks per year to 18 weeks per year, and from the current 6,600 troops per year to 14,000 troops per year. (Time expired)