Defence push for district

Think tank presses governments

MORE needs to be done to help regional cities such as Geelong become “defence ready” and take advantage of defence training and facilities opportunities, according to the nation’s largest think tank dedicated to regional issues.

A Regional Australia Institute submission to the inquiry into the impact of defence training activities and facilities on rural and regional communities claims all levels of government need to improve efforts to bring defence projects to regional Australia.

“Policies to support local businesses to build up the networks and capabilities required to engage with defence — to become ‘defence ready’— can be improved across all states and territories (and) greater emphasis needs to be placed on rural and regional businesses specifically,” the submission noted.

“Federal level facilitation and support is particularly needed, as many states are already active in this field but federal initiatives are lagging.”

Two of the largest Defence facilities in the Geelong region are Fort Queenscliff, which serves as a museum and Defence archive, and the Swan Island training facility.

According to the institute’s report, the Borough of Queenscliffe was among the top 10 regional local government areas with the greatest proportion of Defence employees, making up almost 5 per cent of the overall workforce in 2011, though that may have declined as use of Fort Queenscliff has been scaled back.

Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson said the Geelong region “has a number of strengths and opportunities to secure Defence work, both directly in support of the Australian Defence Force and global supply chains”.

“The opportunities for Geelong-based companies to secure future work, particularly as our submarine and naval shipbuilding plans ramp up over the next few years, are almost boundless,” Ms Henderson said.

“These will bring more jobs to Geelong and export our know-how to the world.”

She said companies that wanted to become “defence ready” should contact the Government’s Centre for Defence Industry Capability for advice and assistance.

Corio MP and opposition defence spokesman Richard Marles said local businesses “stand ready” to join the defence industry, but needed federal help.

“Geelong has the two main ingredients to be a successful defence industry city: a skilled workforce and innovative businesses,” Mr Marles said.

“Geelong businesses are playing their part (and) I know that more of them stand ready to join them.” THERE’S a message for all in the latest work of 15-year-old author Matilda Rothon.

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The Tree That Never Grew encourages readers to share their talents and accept their shortcomings — and it isn’t