Today Monday, 4 February public forums will be held in Darwin as part of the consultations on the Social and Economic Assessments of the impacts associated with the proposed rotational deployment of 1100 United States Marines to northern Australia in 2014.

In October 2012, Defence released the outcomes of Social and Economic Assessments of the impacts associated with the initial company-sized rotational deployments of 200 to 250 United States Marines to Darwin in 2012 and 2013.

Those Assessments found the social impacts to be minimal or negligible, with a small, positive economic benefit associated with rotations of 200 to 250 United States Marines.

In October 2012, it was also announced that, as a next step, assessments would be undertaken of the social and economic impacts associated with the proposed next rotational deployment of 1100 US Marines to northern Australia.

These assessments will help inform Australian Government consideration about the size, nature and timing of the next increment of possible future rotations of United States Marines.

The 1100 figure is based on the next standard US Marine Corps formation above a company of US Marines.  Rotations of this size normally consist of three rifle companies, a weapons company, together with logistics support including vehicles, equipment and aircraft.

The types of vehicles and equipment could potentially include all terrain vehicles, light armoured vehicles, trucks and artillery. The types of aircraft could potentially include helicopters and tilt rotor aircraft such as the MV-22 Osprey, tankers and transport aircraft.

All of these matters are subject to advised Australian Government decisions.

Deloitte Access Economics has been engaged by Defence to undertake the assessments and public consultation process.  The assessment process will involve community polling, public forums and public submissions.  Defence has asked Deloitte to deliver the assessments by the end of March.  Deloitte Access Economics is on the Social Policy Research and Evaluation Standing Offer Panel administered by the Department of Families, Housing and Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

Input to the assessments process can be provided via:

• the previously advertised public forum, today, 4 February from 12.30-1.30pm, at the Deloitte Access Economics office, level 11, 24 Mitchell Street (places for this forum are limited – please RSVP to usmarinesubmissions [at] deloitte.com.au);
• the previously advertised public forum, tonight, 4 February from 7.30-8.30pm, at Charles Darwin University, Red 7.1.01 Mal Nairn Auditorium;
• a web-based survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/usmarinesrotation; or
• a written submission to: usmarinesubmissions [at] deloitte.com.au or to Deloitte Access Economics, PO Box 6248 Kingston ACT 2604. 

The public forums, survey and submissions were first advertised in Darwin on 22 January and the survey and submissions close on 10 February.

Media contacts:

Minister Smith’s Office: Andrew Porter (02) 6277 7800 or 0419 474 392

Minister Snowdon’s Office: Marcus Butler (02) 6277 7820 or 0417 917 796