Defence & Defence Industry
Cairns Marine Precinct
The Cairns Marine Precinct is a critical enabler of the Far North Queensland economy and is central to building a sustainable, diversified future for the region. A leading maritime maintenance, repair and overhaul destination for vessels nationally and internationally, the precinct is home to a large and diverse marine sector including Defence and Border Force, a world-renowned tourism-reef fleet, commercial fishing and shipping, specialist boat builders and an active cruising yacht squadron, while also playing host to superyachts and cruise liners visiting the region. The precinct also offers education and training pathways delivered by the TAFE Great Barrier Reef International Marine College which are building the workforce for the future as well as playing a key role in capacity building across the Pacific.
HMAS Cairns, Australia’s northernmost naval base on the eastern seaboard, plays a crucial role in national defence and security, supporting over 900 Navy and civilian personnel. With the recent Defence Strategic Review (DSR) highlighting the need to upgrade northern bases, the Australian Government has committed $240 million to expand HMAS Cairns to accommodate new Arafura-class Offshore Patrol Vessels.
However, the defence industry faces uncertainty due to delays in releasing the Surface Fleet Review, which is vital for enabling industry preparation and maintaining Australia’s sovereign defence capabilities. Expedited clarity and engagement are urgently needed to support future Defence operations.
Benefits to the region
• Greater integration and collaboration between the Department of Defence and defence industry.
• Support and create increased sovereign capability and strong and resilient supply chains.
• Support industry through provision of long-term continuous sustainment programs.
Recommendation
Australian Government
The Australian Government expedite the release of the findings and response to the surface combatant fleet review and evaluate future processes to ensure that industry central to our Defence and national security operations can continue to sustain future Defence operations.
The Department of Defence delivers on its $240m expansion of HMAS Cairns.
The Department of Defence commits to basing and sustaining additional vessels in Cairns, including the Australian Army’s Land 8710 Amphibious vessels.
Overview
As Australia’s most northern naval base on the eastern seaboard, HMAS Cairns plays a key strategic role in the nation’s defence and security capabilities. With over 900 Navy and civilian personnel, the base provides maintenance, logistics and administrative support to Cairns based Fleet Units as well as refit and training support for neighbouring Pacific Island nations.
The release of the Defence Strategic Review (DSR) highlighted the urgent need to upgrade Australia’s northern bases, with the Australian Government subsequently committing $240m for upgrades at HMAS Cairns as it prepares to accommodate at least four of the 12 Arafura-class Offshore Patrol Vessels.
The Cairns Marine Precinct is primed to support increased Defence activity, with a longstanding marine maintenance and sustainment capability. This was evidenced through the recent establishment of the first of four new Regional Maintenance Centres (RMC) in Cairns. Developed under the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Plan Galileo, RMCs provide a strategically positioned national naval sustainment and maintenance hub. This has allowed the CMP to build on its present commitments, servicing vessels from HMAS Cairns, Darwin, the United States, and the Pacific Islands.
While Defence has made significant commitments and contributions to the region, structural changes in strategic circumstances have required Defence to review and reform its posture and structure. An updated National Defence approach is necessary to meet the challenges in the current geopolitical climate, however despite recommendations of urgency and a “short, sharp” review of the RAN’s surface fleet, the defence industry remains uncertain as to what future capability and capacity might be required to service Defence almost a year after the DSR’s release.
Defence Connect’s 2023 Australian Defence Industry Report found that in a sample of 801 active defence industry participants, almost 50 per cent described Australia’s defence sector as “difficult” or “extremely difficult” to conduct business in[i].
Australia’s sovereign capability requirement has never been more apparent, particularly within Defence. For industry to maintain and build its capacity to support and deliver for Defence operations, greater engagement and oversight into the future Defence pipeline is required, beginning with the urgent release of the Surface Fleet Review. This clarity will provide industry with assurance and enable preparation, investment and development of capabilities required to support Defence’s operations and contribute to the nation’s preparedness for major conflicts.
[i] Garman, Liam. “Businesses struggling to operate in defence industry, lates Australian Defence Industry Report finds.” Defence Connect, January 23, 2024, https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/industry/13486-business-struggling-to-operate-in-defence-industry-latest-australian-defence-industry-report-finds
Last updated: July 2024
HMAS Cairns, Australia’s northernmost naval base on the eastern seaboard, plays a crucial role in national defence and security, supporting over 900 Navy and civilian personnel. With the recent Defence Strategic Review (DSR) highlighting the need to upgrade northern bases, the Australian Government has committed $240 million to expand HMAS Cairns to accommodate new Arafura-class Offshore Patrol Vessels.
However, the defence industry faces uncertainty due to delays in releasing the Surface Fleet Review, which is vital for enabling industry preparation and maintaining Australia’s sovereign defence capabilities. Expedited clarity and engagement are urgently needed to support future Defence operations.
Benefits to the region
• Greater integration and collaboration between the Department of Defence and defence industry.
• Support and create increased sovereign capability and strong and resilient supply chains.
• Support industry through provision of long-term continuous sustainment programs.
Recommendation
Australian Government
The Australian Government expedite the release of the findings and response to the surface combatant fleet review and evaluate future processes to ensure that industry central to our Defence and national security operations can continue to sustain future Defence operations.
The Department of Defence delivers on its $240m expansion of HMAS Cairns.
The Department of Defence commits to basing and sustaining additional vessels in Cairns, including the Australian Army’s Land 8710 Amphibious vessels.
Overview
As Australia’s most northern naval base on the eastern seaboard, HMAS Cairns plays a key strategic role in the nation’s defence and security capabilities. With over 900 Navy and civilian personnel, the base provides maintenance, logistics and administrative support to Cairns based Fleet Units as well as refit and training support for neighbouring Pacific Island nations.
The release of the Defence Strategic Review (DSR) highlighted the urgent need to upgrade Australia’s northern bases, with the Australian Government subsequently committing $240m for upgrades at HMAS Cairns as it prepares to accommodate at least four of the 12 Arafura-class Offshore Patrol Vessels.
The Cairns Marine Precinct is primed to support increased Defence activity, with a longstanding marine maintenance and sustainment capability. This was evidenced through the recent establishment of the first of four new Regional Maintenance Centres (RMC) in Cairns. Developed under the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Plan Galileo, RMCs provide a strategically positioned national naval sustainment and maintenance hub. This has allowed the CMP to build on its present commitments, servicing vessels from HMAS Cairns, Darwin, the United States, and the Pacific Islands.
While Defence has made significant commitments and contributions to the region, structural changes in strategic circumstances have required Defence to review and reform its posture and structure. An updated National Defence approach is necessary to meet the challenges in the current geopolitical climate, however despite recommendations of urgency and a “short, sharp” review of the RAN’s surface fleet, the defence industry remains uncertain as to what future capability and capacity might be required to service Defence almost a year after the DSR’s release.
Defence Connect’s 2023 Australian Defence Industry Report found that in a sample of 801 active defence industry participants, almost 50 per cent described Australia’s defence sector as “difficult” or “extremely difficult” to conduct business in[i].
Australia’s sovereign capability requirement has never been more apparent, particularly within Defence. For industry to maintain and build its capacity to support and deliver for Defence operations, greater engagement and oversight into the future Defence pipeline is required, beginning with the urgent release of the Surface Fleet Review. This clarity will provide industry with assurance and enable preparation, investment and development of capabilities required to support Defence’s operations and contribute to the nation’s preparedness for major conflicts.
[i] Garman, Liam. “Businesses struggling to operate in defence industry, lates Australian Defence Industry Report finds.” Defence Connect, January 23, 2024, https://www.defenceconnect.com.au/industry/13486-business-struggling-to-operate-in-defence-industry-latest-australian-defence-industry-report-finds
Last updated: July 2024
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