From 2025, Townsville North Queensland is set to become Australia’s designated ‘Army Capital,’ home to the Australian Defence Forces’ only lethal combat brigade and associated infrastructure.
Townsville Enterprise, in partnership with Townsville City Council and Charters Towers Regional Council, provided a joint submission to the Strategic Defence Review in late 2022, with the public document outlining recommendations released in 2023.
The Defence Strategic Review sets the agenda for ambitious, but necessary, reform to Defence's posture and structure and to ensure that the region fully capitalises on the opportunities outlined in the Review and addresses the challenges associated with the Defence uplift in North Queensland.
Townsville’s strategic importance to the Australian Army has been advanced by the Australian Government’s response to the Defence Strategic Review with the announcement of an additional 500 personnel moving to Townsville in 2025.
To acknowledge Townsville’s vital role in the country’s defence posture, Townsville Enterprise and James Cook University jointly hosted the principal author of the 2023 Defence Strategic Review, Professor Peter Dean at a Business Breakfast in Townsville this morning.
Professor Peter Dean is the Director of Foreign Policy and Defence at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney expressed his excitement for visiting the region.
“North Queensland is an incredibly important region for Australia’s national resilience, defence infrastructure, a gateway for defence engagement into the south pacific, and a critical enabler of the defence industry and a part of the defence community; the region’s geographic location makes it critical in response to international and domestic operational requirements,” Professor Dean said.
“The 3rd brigade is undergoing significant capability and force posture enhancements as a result of the Defence Strategic Review. The area is home to critical capabilities, to unique and key training ranges and infrastructure and provides a platform for regional engagement and major exercises.”
“As the National Defence Strategy develops and we move to greater self-reliance, opportunities will grow for the local community and businesses in sustainment, manufacturing, and innovation; however, this will all depend on the development of a highly skilled workforce in north Queensland which rests on education, especially technical and university qualifications as well as supporting factors such as house and community facilities to attract and retain workers.”
Claudia Brumme-Smith, CEO, Townsville Enterprise said Professor Peter Dean’s leadership in the Defence Strategic Review will help shape our region's future.
“Defence is a critical sector for Townsville North Queensland. It contributes over $4 billion into our economy every single year and is the second largest employer in our region,” Ms Brumme-Smith said.
“We are excited to have the author of the Strategic Defence Review in Townsville today to talk to our business community about what the role and responsibility of Townsville North Queensland in the national security of our nation, but more importantly, the future support required to cater to this essential growth.”
“From our joint submission presented in late 2022, all major recommendations have now adopted into the Defence Strategic Review in 2023 and from this, Townsville Enterprise have also established a North Queensland Strategic Defence Working Group to address forthcoming challenges such as housing shortages in Townsville.”
“With the region facing a critical need for increased housing supply, urgent action is already being pursued, including ongoing engagement with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Defence Housing Australia's (DHA) to advocate for investment in new housing projects.”
“While housing represents an acute and immediate need to be addressed and will be a priority for us in the short term, the additional investment coming to our region from Defence represents an incredible economic opportunity for us. The need for additional expertise in engineering, aviation maintenance, research in advanced technologies and the need for additional industry support from our sovereign manufacturing industries will require a long-term strategic approach from our region and one we are squarely focused on through this Working Group.”
James Cook University Vice Chancellor Professor Simon Biggs said the Business Breakfast was an ideal opportunity for the northern Queensland community to hear from one of Australia’s leading Defence experts.
“James Cook University is proud to present this important discussion with Townsville Enterprise, which will assist local researchers and industry in developing their understanding of the critical technologies needed to boost Defence innovation,” Professor Biggs said.
“Defence has an extensive presence throughout northern Queensland and there’s no doubt the region will continue to play a central role in the years to come. As Defence repostures to meet the challenges faced by the broader Asia-Pacific region in the 21st century, it is important to know how our local industry can meet those workforce demands.
“We look forward to hearing those insights and more from Professor Peter Dean.”
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Background:
For more information about Townsville Enterprise’s Defence Review Submission visit:
Defence Strategic Review Submission by Townsville Enterprise - Issuu
