maintenance and repair expertise in the Northern Defence Territory. Defence infrastructure investment will play a significant role in the coming two decades with a Challenges and opportunities planned infrastructure spend in the Northern Territory of $20 billion over 20 years identified in There are challenges for the Northern Territory to the Defence White Paper. In 2015–16, Defence leverage the Defence presence and future spending of $1.66 billion in the Northern investment in infrastructure. These include Territory accounted for 7.3 per cent of gross state demonstrating the capability and capacity of our product. This is expected to increase to an industry to undertake Defence work and working average of $2.5 billion per annum. with the Australian Government to ensure local businesses are afforded the opportunity to Defence personnel and their families are an compete for this work, securing enduring jobs in integral part of the Northern Territory the Northern Territory. community. Defence currently base more than 5400 uniformed personnel in the Northern arriving Defence platforms, such as the Territory, together with their families this Offshore Patrol Vessel and the Triton unmanned represents some 12 000 people or five per cent of air vehicles, as well as existing platforms such as the Northern Territory population. the Armidale Class Patrol Boats create significant opportunities for local industry to become The Defence White Paper and its supporting embedded into the supply chains for these documents identified infrastructure investment in assets. northern Australia (particularly Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal) as a high priority. Multi-user Implementing and aligning the development of infrastructure offers the opportunity to develop these platforms under the 2016 Defence White infrastructure that benefits other sectors as well Paper, with the northern Australia Development as Defence. The barge ramp facility at East Arm is agenda and the Indigenous Advancement an example of multi-user infrastructure, jointly Strategy, provides a valuable opportunity to work funded by Defence and Northern Territory together for the benefit of all stakeholders. Government. An alignment of the strategic vision for northern Recognising increasing demand for marine Australia would also increase the number of industry services from Defence, Australian Border Defence Force personnel in the Northern Force, the offshore oil and gas and commercial Territory. Liveability and lifestyle are crucial to sectors, the Northern Territory Government is supporting the recruitment of defence personnel investing up to $100 million to develop a to the Northern Territory. Perceptions about the common user Ship Lift and Marine Industries quality of healthcare and education services and facility. The facility will target expanded marine infrastructure need to be addressed to support an increased Defence population.
Defence Defence infrastructure investment will play a significant role in the coming two decades with a planned infrastructure spend in the Northern Territory of $20 billion over 20 years identified in the Defence White Paper. In 2015–16, Defence spending of $1.66 billion in the Northern Territory accounted for 7.3 per cent of gross state product. This is expected to increase to an average of $2.5 billion per annum. Defence personnel and their families are an integral part of the Northern Territory community. Defence currently base more than 5400 uniformed personnel in the Northern Territory, together with their families this represents some 12 000 people or five per cent of the Northern Territory population. The Defence White Paper and its supporting documents identified infrastructure investment in northern Australia (particularly Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal) as a high priority. Multi-user infrastructure offers the opportunity to develop infrastructure that benefits other sectors as well as Defence. The barge ramp facility at East Arm is an example of multi-user infrastructure, jointly funded by Defence and Northern Territory Government. Recognising increasing demand for marine industry services from Defence, Australian Border Force, the offshore oil and gas and commercial sectors, the Northern Territory Government is investing up to $100 million to develop a common user Ship Lift and Marine Industries facility. The facility will target expanded marine maintenance and repair expertise in the Northern Territory. Challenges and opportunities There are challenges for the Northern Territory to leverage the Defence presence and future investment in infrastructure. These include demonstrating the capability and capacity of our industry to undertake Defence work and working with the Australian Government to ensure local businesses are afforded the opportunity to compete for this work, securing enduring jobs in the Northern Territory. arriving Defence platforms, such as the Offshore Patrol Vessel and the Triton unmanned air vehicles, as well as existing platforms such as the Armidale Class Patrol Boats create significant opportunities for local industry to become embedded into the supply chains for these assets. Implementing and aligning the development of these platforms under the 2016 Defence White Paper, with the northern Australia Development agenda and the Indigenous Advancement Strategy, provides a valuable opportunity to work together for the benefit of all stakeholders. An alignment of the strategic vision for northern Australia would also increase the number of Defence Force personnel in the Northern Territory. Liveability and lifestyle are crucial to supporting the recruitment of defence personnel to the Northern Territory. Perceptions about the quality of healthcare and education services and infrastructure need to be addressed to support an increased Defence population.
infrastructure-strategy.docx