Mr BONSON - 2003-08-21
Would the minister please advise members on what this government is doing to support Defence infrastructure projects in the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question. We all know how important the Defence Forces are, and their families, not only to our economy, but to our community. More than $500m each year is spent in supporting the Defence Force presence in the Northern Territory. That is money that is going around our economy, and that is growing every year. People in the ADF and their families make up 8% of our population. I am sure every member in this House welcomes ADF people to the Northern Territory, many of whom choose to stay here after their term of duty.
My Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development and Defence Support works very closely, not only with the Defence Force itself, but also with Territory businesses to try and ensure that our businesses have the capacity and the capability to secure as much of that Defence expenditure as they can and, more importantly, something of substance - jobs for Territorians. The department has undergone a significant restructure and created a new lead role at deputy secretary level to support our significant effort of working with the Defence Force and business in the Territory to ensure that our companies have the capacity to serve the ADF’s needs in the Territory.
I am pleased to say that, just yesterday in the federal parliament, by way of Notice of Motion, the Public Works Committee committed to $88m worth of capital investment in the Northern Territory over the next two years – fantastic news for our economy. Congratulations to that committee, the federal government and the ADF for that ongoing commitment to the ADF presence in the Territory.
We will soon have the 1st Aviation Regiment at Robertson Barracks in Darwin, with infrastructure valued at $78m. On Friday of last week, the design consultancy contract went to a local Darwin company, Spowers Architects, and I congratulate Ian Calley and his team. This is a big win for that company, and they are absolutely ecstatic about that contract. Construction activity is due to start and roll out through 2004 and 2005. That is great news for our construction industry.
In Katherine – the member for Katherine, I am sure, will be pleased to hear this – the perimeter security system is to be installed at RAAF Tindal with a value of nearly $10m. This is going to be the mother of all fences. I know the RAAF are very excited about it, and local contractors are pretty excited about that $10m worth of capital expenditure.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure and privilege of meeting with Brigadier Hutchinson from the Defence Estates organisation, a very important and significant meeting, with a recommitment for that organisation working with my department on how to maximise Territory business opportunities and jobs in these projects. ‘Hutch’ and his team are committed to doing that. That is going to be fantastic news for our economy. This is on the back of, a few weeks ago, a final signing ceremony at Timber Creek for the Bradshaw field training area. Again, fantastic news for our construction sector, with $55m worth of work. The tender is out now and, again, massive construction during 2004-05. My department is working closely with the Northern Land Council to assist them to build capacity to maximise Aboriginal involvement on the Bradshaw project, not only during the construction, but the operation phase.
This Commonwealth investment means jobs for Territorians. We are out there working with local business to ensure that, as much as possible, our local businesses get their share of that work. Jobs for Territorians is great news today for the economy in the Northern Territory.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question. We all know how important the Defence Forces are, and their families, not only to our economy, but to our community. More than $500m each year is spent in supporting the Defence Force presence in the Northern Territory. That is money that is going around our economy, and that is growing every year. People in the ADF and their families make up 8% of our population. I am sure every member in this House welcomes ADF people to the Northern Territory, many of whom choose to stay here after their term of duty.
My Department of Business, Industry and Resource Development and Defence Support works very closely, not only with the Defence Force itself, but also with Territory businesses to try and ensure that our businesses have the capacity and the capability to secure as much of that Defence expenditure as they can and, more importantly, something of substance - jobs for Territorians. The department has undergone a significant restructure and created a new lead role at deputy secretary level to support our significant effort of working with the Defence Force and business in the Territory to ensure that our companies have the capacity to serve the ADF’s needs in the Territory.
I am pleased to say that, just yesterday in the federal parliament, by way of Notice of Motion, the Public Works Committee committed to $88m worth of capital investment in the Northern Territory over the next two years – fantastic news for our economy. Congratulations to that committee, the federal government and the ADF for that ongoing commitment to the ADF presence in the Territory.
We will soon have the 1st Aviation Regiment at Robertson Barracks in Darwin, with infrastructure valued at $78m. On Friday of last week, the design consultancy contract went to a local Darwin company, Spowers Architects, and I congratulate Ian Calley and his team. This is a big win for that company, and they are absolutely ecstatic about that contract. Construction activity is due to start and roll out through 2004 and 2005. That is great news for our construction industry.
In Katherine – the member for Katherine, I am sure, will be pleased to hear this – the perimeter security system is to be installed at RAAF Tindal with a value of nearly $10m. This is going to be the mother of all fences. I know the RAAF are very excited about it, and local contractors are pretty excited about that $10m worth of capital expenditure.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure and privilege of meeting with Brigadier Hutchinson from the Defence Estates organisation, a very important and significant meeting, with a recommitment for that organisation working with my department on how to maximise Territory business opportunities and jobs in these projects. ‘Hutch’ and his team are committed to doing that. That is going to be fantastic news for our economy. This is on the back of, a few weeks ago, a final signing ceremony at Timber Creek for the Bradshaw field training area. Again, fantastic news for our construction sector, with $55m worth of work. The tender is out now and, again, massive construction during 2004-05. My department is working closely with the Northern Land Council to assist them to build capacity to maximise Aboriginal involvement on the Bradshaw project, not only during the construction, but the operation phase.
This Commonwealth investment means jobs for Territorians. We are out there working with local business to ensure that, as much as possible, our local businesses get their share of that work. Jobs for Territorians is great news today for the economy in the Northern Territory.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016