DOLLARS & PENCE
Vice President’s visit to drive port and tourism jobs
THOUSANDS of potential jobs hinging on Cairns being designated a strategic military port have been bolstered by a few key words from US Vice President Mike Pence (right).
Donald Trump’s second-in-command and Second Lady Karen Pence have flown the coop after focusing the international spotlight on the Far North Queensland tourism industry – and even photobombing a wedding.
THE likelihood of Cairns being designated a strategic military port is on the rise following a single statement by the United States’ Vice President.
Millions of dollars in infrastructure and thousands of new jobs could result from the designation as Cairns positions itself as the support and ship maintenance base for an increased navy presence around the South China Sea.
Speaking from APEC meetings in Port Moresby before he finally left the region yesterday, Vice President Mike Pence recommitted the US to partnering with Australia and Papua New Guinea on the joint initiative to build the Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island.
“We will work with these two nations to protect sovereignty and maritime rights in the Pacific Islands,” he said.
It was music to the ears of the former chief of the Australian Army, John Grey, who calls Cairns home and has been campaigning for its strategic military position to be recognised.
Lieutenant-General (Ret) Grey said he could see momentum building on both sides of politics to make the change, which would mean Cairns became the maintenance and sustainment hub for offshore patrol vessels – and potentially bigger Defence ships – operating on Manus.
“I think it will become an election issue,” he said.
“The normal thing for Defence is to prepare optional briefs for both the government and Opposition, because there is a possibility the government might change.
“In each case, given the commitment by the US, PNG and Australia to Lombrum – that’s a done deal and is going to happen. It comes down to the extent to which Australia and the navy support the base.”
The Federal Government has so far committed to bringing a dozen new offshore patrol vessels online.
Construction of the first two began in Adelaide this week, with the remaining 10 to be built in Western Australia.
Under current arrangements, WA will also have the maintenance contracts – a detail that seems counterintuitive given its distance from PNG.
Lt-Gen (Ret) Grey said the Lombrum naval base requirements could mean even more OPVs were needed.
“Those 12 were predicated on the basis of having four for the east coast and the other eight for the west coast and the North West Shelf,” he said. “Things have now changed. “On the North West Shelf, the stop-the-boats campaign and offshore assets still require the same number of vessels.
“So there’s a case now for more OPVs to be built.
“The reason to do that would be to have more presence in the South Pacific.”
Opposition defence spokesman Richard Marles toured HMAS Cairns and saw hydrographic ship HMAS Leeuwin in the Tropical Reef Shipyard dry dock for maintenance.
“That’s about equal weight of an OPV, up in Cairns, being repaired on very short notice,” Lt-Gen (Ret) Grey said.
“I think that gave him a better understanding of the capabilities of our maritime industries.”