Our Defence numbers key to economy

TOWNSVILLE is home to the largest military base in the country – the Australian Army’s Lavarack Barracks.

But equally as important is RAAF Base Townsville and the lesser known Ross Island Barracks, South Townsville.

The defence industry employs 5489 people or 6.3 per cent of the total number of workers aged over 15 in the Townsville local government area, according to 2016 Census data.

According to 2017 Defence data, there are 6853 Australian Defence Force personnel working in the city – 5943 army, 699 air force, five navy and 206 civilians.

The loss of 24 air force personnel and five families from Townsville in Defence’s plan to move 38 Squadron to Victoria after almost a decade of service in the North will be felt.

Even worse is the looming cut to Hawker Pacific’s contract staff, who don’t have the luxury of a Defence reposting and who will likely have to join the already long unemployment queue in Townsville come December.

At a time when the city is trying to grow and foster a Defence industry for long- term job prosperity and to give opportunities to those transitioning out of the ADF into meaningful employment, this decision is curious.

It’s a huge blow and one Townsville can’t take lying down.

Mayor Jenny Hill and Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole have both indicated they would look to Defence to commit to a replacement aviation operation to, at worst, make this job loss neutral.

There has been previous talk around bringing C- 27J Spartan military transport aircraft and that maintenance work to Townsville.

Defence has alluded to that but as yet no confirmations have been made. That would certainly be welcomed. But it may be little comfort to those who have poured their hearts and souls into the King Air operations and before that the Caribous, which were retired in 2009.