Singapore defence deal will bring massive benefits to region

THE Turnbull Government’s push for closer relationships with Singapore moves forward this week with the visit to Singapore of a high- level government delegation to build on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership ( CSP) and in particular the Australia Singapore Military Training Initiative ( ASMTI).

The delegation will be led by the Minister for Defence, Marise Payne and Trade and Tourism Minister Steven Ciobo, and will include the Member for Capricornia, Michelle Landry and myself. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will also be in Singapore for talks with her counterparts.

The delegation will comprise Townsville business, industry and local government leaders including Townsville Mayor Cr Jenny Hill, Charters Towers Mayor Cr Liz Schmidt, Professor Louis Schofield of James Cook University, builder Adrian Gabrielli and representatives from the Port of Townsville, Townsville Enterprise and Regional Development Australia

Since the formation of the CSP over a year ago, the Government has been working assiduously to advance the Singapore partnership.

The ASMTI was announced in May 2016 as a subset of the CSP with a Singaporean Government commitment to invest over $ 2.25 billion into upgrading existing Australian Army training areas near Townsville and Rockhampton.

Unfortunately the land acquisition needed for the expansion got off to a bad start and I was disappointed at the lack of understanding and support in Townsville for the Government proposals. At no stage was it contemplated that all 23 properties being negotiated would be resumed and, following community consultation, compulsory acquisition was dropped, raising concerns of the consequences for Townsville.

Further Government efforts resurrected the plan to expand the Defence training areas around Townsville and I was delighted recently to meet landowners who are keen to deal with Defence.

Under ASMTI up to 14,000 Singaporean troops will train in Queensland for up to 18 weeks per year. And while the Singaporean Government will fund the significant infrastructure required to expand the Australian Army Training Areas, the land will continue to be owned by the Australian Government which will manage the project. The Government has also announced that local contractors will be encouraged to do the work.

The importance of Defence to Townsville can be no better demonstrated than by the fact that in the last financial year over half a billion dollars in recurrent expenditure was poured into Townsville. In addition, in the same financial year, defence industry spending with private- sector firms in Townsville totalled in excess of $ 11 million. The influx of Singaporean troops will not only help the local economy during training activities, but also motivate Singaporeans to return to the region in the years ahead for business and leisure pursuits.

James Cook University is crucial to the CSP. It has a long- established Singapore campus, and is one of the few foreign universities recognised by the Singaporean Government. The contacts and goodwill already developed by JCU will be invaluable to the wider aims of the CSP.

The delegation will involve meetings with Australian and Singaporean companies and government representatives, and an update from Defence on the implementation of the ASMTI including potential economic opportunities.