Former Army Chief to chair board based in Townsville

A  FORMER Army chief has put his hand up to chair the inaugural North Queensland Defence Advisory Board in a major coup for developing the military industry in the region.

Former Chief of the Army Peter Leahy at Parliament House in Canberra.

A  FORMER Army chief has put his hand up to chair the inaugural North Queensland Defence Advisory Board in a major coup for developing the military industry in the region.

Retired Lieutenant General Professor Peter Leahy would lead the board, which would support a re-elected Labor Government’s proposed North Queensland Defence Development Agenda.

A new Defence Jobs Queensland agency would identify job-generating opportunities for North Queensland in the military sector, supported by the advisory board.

During Professor Leahy’s six-year term as chief of the Army 2002-08, which included a stint as 3rd Brigade Commander, he managed a $6 billion budget and the provision of strategic advice to ministers. He is now a member of the Defence SA Advisory Board and the director of University of Canberra’s National Security Institute.

“I have visited Townsville on many occasions and I know the important role the city plays in the Australian Defence Force,” Professor Leahy (pictured) said.

“The establishment of the (board) is a significant step forward in supporting the region’s objective of generating greater defence industry capability, business and employment opportunities for the North. The (agenda) is first class and a lot of thought has been put into it.

“Even though I have been retired for a few years now, the Defence Force is a family and you don’t lose that. I see this as a terrific opportunity to pay back to the community, as it is a key role in creating confidence.”

Townsville Enterprise policy and investment director Michael McMillan said securing Professor Leahy’s support was a significant win.

“We must take advantage of the Defence presence in our region, pro­actively promoting North Queensland’s strategic and geographic advantages in order to secure a greater share of the Australian Defence Force’s operational and investment activities,” he said.

Mr McMillan said Townsville Enterprise’s focus now shifted to securing the support of LNP and One Nation. Katter’s Australia Party state leader Robbie Katter has already endorsed the plan.

“We must secure ­bipartisan support from all Queensland political parties towards the North Queensland Defence Development Agenda, so we can ensure our community realises the significant social and economic benefits this initiative will deliver, regardless of the state election outcome,” he said.

The North Queensland Defence Advisory Board will meet for the first time in February next year. It is anticipated the board will push the region’s key defence agenda objective of establishing Townsville as the ADF’s North Australian deep maintenance, sustainment and logistics hub.

Securing support for its Defence Industries Development Agenda and the establishment of a North Queensland Defence Advisory Board has been a key priority for Townsville Enterprise over the past 12 months.

Originally published as Former Army Chief to chair board based in Townsville