Future Cairns: Dr John Coyne talks about Cairns’ Northern Australia strategic defence
Cairns’ strategic importance in the country’s defence is growing but there is a question mark on whether we will be able to support the predicted enlarged presence. Read what will be needed.
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CAIRNS is strategically positioned for an important role in the country’s defence but the question for our region is whether we will be ready to support an enlarged presence.
Ahead of the Defence Security Review announced by the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last month, Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s Dr John Coyne, visited Cairns on September 6-7 to advise council and local stakeholders about how to promote the city to take its place in the future.
Dr Coyne who heads up their independent think-tank’s Northern Australia Strategic Policy Centre and Strategic Policing and Law Enforcement, said it was important Cairns comprehended its place in the future of the country’s defence.
He said with an increase in movement by other countries to secure strategic locations close to FNQ, Cairns must act decisively.
“Whether we like it or not, Cairns is on the edge of the territory of this part of the Pacific and an important connection point,” he said.
“We have entered a time of great power competition and strategic uncertainty and it’s in our backyard.
“If you are living in Cairns then Chinese activity is closer to you than the Australian government in Canberra.”
Australia’s former top ranking military officer agreed.
He said the federal government must designate Cairns as a strategic port or defence operations will suffer the consequences.
Retired Lieutenant General John Grey, former chief of the Australian Army who moved to FNQ in 1995, said Cairns must ensure its main airport as well as regional facilities were able to handle additional defence traffic including personnel, logistics and supplies.
“The personnel side is two-fold for the naval families who will live here,” he said.
“Cairns must have the housing and appropriate medical options to support the southwest Pacific nations.”
His comments dovetail with the newly released 30-year masterplan for the Cairns and Mourilyan ports which featured how defence facilities at the Port of Cairns and the development of the Cairns Marine Precinct will boost the regions economy with many hundreds of jobs up for grabs over the next decade.
A Defence representative confirmed there were currently more than 1200 Australian Defence Force members in the Cairns region.
“As HMAS Cairns is in a strategic location in FNQ, Defence aims to create a more secure and efficient base in order to continue to support Defence’s operations in Northern Australia and beyond,” the representative said.
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Originally published as Future Cairns: Dr John Coyne talks about Cairns’ Northern Australia strategic defence
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