Federal government pledges $14-18bn to bolster northern defence bases

The ‘lion’s share’ of up to $18bn will flow to the NT under a new program to strengthen Australia’s northern defence bases. Here’s what it means for the Territory.

Billions of dollars will be spent improving the Northern Territory’s defence infrastructure and capabilities, under a major defence spend to bolster Australia’s northern bases.

The federal government’s 2024 Integrated Investment Program has allocated $14 to $18bn over the next decade to strengthen bases in the NT, northern Queensland and northern Western Australia, and contribute to enhanced collective security of the Indo-Pacific.

In Darwin for a defence summit, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said “the lion’s share” of the funding would flow to the Territory.

“So much of the ADF is based here, which means so much of the money is going to be coming to the Northern Territory,” he said.

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy and Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite in Darwin announcing $14 – $18bn over the next decade to bolster Australias northern bases. Picture: Fia Walsh.

“Nearly $400m on the Robertson Barracks redevelopment, $1.5bn on RAAF Base Tindal, hundreds of millions of dollars going into the United States Force Posture Initiatives training areas – they’re just a few examples of the billions of dollars that will go into the NT to develop these bases, which means a safer and stronger ADF and more jobs for Territorians.”

“There are over 5000 Territorians in the defence industry already, 1000 Territorian companies support the ADF, and it contributes around 7.5 per cent to the economy of the NT.”

None of the funding was guaranteed for Territory companies, but Mr Conroy said he expected “most” of the money to flow to local industry.

RAAF Base Tindal and Robertson Barracks are included in Defence assets slated for upgrades.

The government’s investment plan will accelerate upgrades to RAAF Base Tindal, including airfield improvements to enable enhanced air refuelling operations by KC‑30A multi-role tanker transport aircraft.

New littoral manoeuvre facilities for amphibious vessels will also be developed in Northern Australia, along with redevelopment of the Larrakeyah Defence Precinct in Darwin, including facilities upgrades and new berthing capabilities to accommodate major surface combatants and submarines at HMAS Coonawarra.

Additional funding will deliver more live-in accommodation at Robertson Barracks to support the Marine Rotational Force, Darwin, as well as upgrades to a range of base services.

Other air base upgrade projects to receive increased funding include major maintenance at RAAF Base Darwin and Mount Bundey Airfield.

Mr Conroy reiterated the Territory’s importance to the region’s security, saying the ADF was dealing with “the most challenging strategic circumstances since World War II” due to the “biggest arms race in our region since 1945”.