The Hon. John Moore, MP
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09 May 2000
Defence Budget Good News for the Northern Territory
The Minister for Defence, John Moore, today said that the 2000-01 Defence Budget is good news for the Northern Territory.
"The Defence Budget contains expenditure of $53 million for the Northern Territory on Defence facilities projects in the 2000-01 financial year. The overall value of these projects is more than $452 million," Mr Moore said.
"The overall increase in Defence funding announced in the 2000-01 Budget is a clear demonstration of the Coalition Government’s continuing commitment to Defence.
"In line with the Government’s 1998 election commitment, Defence funding has been maintained in real terms, in addition to Australia maintaining its ongoing contribution to peacekeeping operations in East Timor," said Mr Moore.
Facilities projects funded in this year’s Budget include:
| Location | Project | 2000-2001 $m |
Total Est Cost $m |
| Darwin | Stage 2 of Joint Army Deployment Facility at Robertson Barracks including new working accommodation | 14.132 | 268.300 |
| Darwin | Stage 1 of North Australia Naval infrastructure including ship berthing facilities | 9.532 | 12.400 |
| Timber Creek | Bradshaw training area infrastructure works | 7.661 | 54.000 |
| RAAF Darwin | Development of operational facilities including aircraft shelters and pavements | 3.654 | 59.458 |
| RAAF Darwin | Redevelopment of base | 8.850 | 11.670 |
| Darwin | Leanyer Air Weapons Range decontamination | 0.626 | 4.000 |
| Darwin | Emergency response facilities | 1.000 | 4.000 |
| RAAF Darwin | Facilities for 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit | 0.200 | 5.830 |
| RAAF Darwin | Upgrade of electrical reticulation servicing the Married Quarter area | 2.800 | 3.600 |
| Bathurst Island | Facilities upgrade | 2.000 | 2.000 |
| Harts Range | Power station upgrade | 0.467 | 3.500 |
| RAAF Tindal, Katherine | Construction of avionics/oxygen workshop and extension of technical support surface finishing facility | 0.350 | 8.255 |
| Delamere, Katherine | Air weapons range development to support training requirements | 0.300 | 12.300 |
| RAAF Tindal, Katherine | Construct an approach control facility to support the installation of new equipment | 1.300 | 1.800 |
| RAAF Tindal, Katherine | Redevelopment of the Northern Region Operations Centre | 0.150 | 1.250 |
| Total | 53.022 | 452.363 |
Total Defence Departmental Appropriations, excluding the capital use charge, is $12.2 billion, which is 1.8% of GDP. Total Defence funding from all sources for 2000-01 is $19.4 billion.
"A key feature of this year’s Budget is the Government’s commitment to the Reserves. Through legislative changes the Federal Government wants to make the Reserves more attractive to young Australians and their employers, as well as a more integrated and capable component of the ADF.
"The Government also will release, later this year, a Defence White Paper which will be a comprehensive statement of the Government’s defence policy for the 21st Century," Mr Moore said.
"The White Paper will provide a timely contribution to the public debate on defence, in light of significant changes in Australia’s strategic environment, the increasing demands that are being placed on the Australian Defence Force, and the assessment of future, major equipment decisions.
(The way that the GST affects budget estimates, accounting statements and appropriations is described in Budget Paper Number 4)
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