Push is on for defence jobs Council to ensure local benefits

TOWNSVILLE is set to bolster its push into capturing more of the benefits of military spending and jobs with the council looking to hire its first defence industries officer.

Advertising for the position nationwide fulfils a commitment by Mayor Jenny Hill to deliver as many defence jobs for the community as possible.

Cr Hill said the key policy objective set during the 2016 council election campaign was to building the relationship with defence. The objective was also included in the City Deal struck between the council and State and Federal governments to develop the city as a defence hub.

“It’s not just about the community activation, it’s about the economic activation,” Cr Hill said. “We are out to maximise and deliver as many jobs as we can for the community.”

The council’s defence industries officer will deliver high level research and strategic defence, defence industry, national security policy and planning advice to the council and further build relationships with local, state, national and international defence and defence industry representatives and organisations.

Defence is already a key sector of the local economy with an analysis by James Cook University finding that it comprised about 11 per cent of gross regional product estimated at $12.8 billion.

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

But Cr Hill said Townsville captured only a very small portion of the spending on the upkeep and maintenance of defence facilities in Queensland despite hosting Australia’s largest defence base.

She said centralised defence procurement and changes in equipment, such as with a recent move from Unimog to Rheinmetall vehicles, had meant much of the maintenance was done in Brisbane where previously it had occurred here.

Cr Hill said a defence industries officer could also work on the opportunities being presented by the Australian Singapore Military Training Initiative as well as other links with other countries.

Having a local officer meant the interests of Townsville were properly represented.

“There’s going to be some major opportunities with the Australian Singapore Military Training Initiative and other countries now getting involved,” Cr Hill said.

“Japan is becoming increasingly involved in joint defence arrangements and there are opportunities for us in Papua New Guinea and in the Pacific Islands to create a strong hub here to service those regions.”