Radio Interview, ABC North Queensland Breakfast

SUBJECTS: RAAF Base Townsville Investment, Defence Housing 

MICHAEL CLARKE [HOST]: Well, even up into the sky, the ABC Listen app does work pretty well. And that might be a reminder to all of those pilots coming to Townsville soon into next year as they pilot the Apache helicopter fleet, the new army attack aircraft that is coming to Townsville, as we know, which with an expansion of defence personnel throughout Townsville. We've talked in the past about where all the personnel are going to be, but what about those helicopters? What's happening at the RAAF base in Townsville? The Assistant Minister for Defence, Peter Khalil, is on the ground in Townsville today and could give us an update. Minister, hello.

PETER KHALIL [ASSISTANT MINISTER]: Good morning, Michael. It's good to be here in, I was going to say sunny Townsville, but it's windy Townsville this morning.

CLARKE: It's windy. We've got a little bit of cloud.

KHALIL: Is that good for aviation or not? I'm not sure.

CLARKE: I don't know. You might have to ask the team. When you head out to RAAF base today, what, what is the update you can give us so far and how that works going.

KHALIL It is a transformation. We've, invested $700 million in the infrastructure upgrades at RAAF Base Townsville and that's going to include new working accommodation, a new simulation hall for the Apaches as they arrive. There's all sorts of things as well, like new hangars that have to be built and so on. It's about $375 million into the local economy and about 275 jobs with will be created in Townsville at the peak of construction. But when the Apaches arrive, there's going to be another $306 million commitment there around maintenance, engineering, support, sustainment. And you're looking at another 150 jobs in Townsville around that work and another 50 jobs in Brisbane and 20 in Oakey as well. So, it's a huge investment in the northern bases here in Townsville and a huge investment in the economy of North Queensland.

CLARKE: How is that work progressing? Because we know we're getting close to the end of the year and when the Apaches do arrive in 2026.

KHALIL: Yeah, well, I'm going out there this morning. Part of my role as the Assistant Minister of Defence is responsibility around the infrastructure and the upgrades around bases around their country and making them fit for purpose. There's been a lot of progress there. I'll be making sure that it's not as exciting as seeing the actual Apaches, but it's about looking at the infrastructure, the construction timelines, the milestones that we need to reach. And I'll be getting the briefings from the base commanders and so on. But we're very confident that the work is on time and progressing really well. For the Apaches that are going to be coming in from the US very soon.

CLARKE: How challenging is it to develop a site like RAAF base Townsville, which is a functioning location? You're needing to obviously expand it for these new services, these new helicopters that are coming in. But there's still work happening there on site. How do you make work like that occur without impeding existing procedures?

KHALIL: It's a great question because we're actually doing this across Australia, particularly upgrading the northern bases across the north of Australia, making our infrastructure, sorry, our estate, our defence estate and base and facilities fit for purpose for the current and future capability requirements for the ADF. And that includes the southern base as well around logistics and transport. It's a huge enterprise. There's billions of dollars being spent on capital works across bases as we speak. There's a lot of organisation that goes into that to ensure that the current operations aren't impeded. As you say, the work that's being done at Townsville is very important that there are capital works around the, you know, building a multi-story car park and things like that. It does put people, you know, it does create some sort of, you know, difficulties if you like, on a day to day basis. But people are professional and they're getting on with it. And I think there's a real welcoming of the work and the investment that's being put into our northern bases. And I'm very excited about it because this is about, you know, as I said, creating jobs, but also, you know, the northern Queensland economy. But it's also about making sure our bases are fit for purpose for our men and women in uniform.

CLARKE: I know you're yet to go out, you're visiting there today after you have a chat with us here. But the base is much loved in Townsville. People pass it every day for work. It's been a big part of the community life. With this work, is it going to look a lot different? Are we looking at big structural sort of change for the base?

KHALIL: Well, there is. Well, I did mention earlier, but the 1st Aviation Regiment is going to be relocated to Townsville. I'm not sure if listeners know that. And also the 16th Aviation Brigade headquarters is going to be based at RAAF Base, Townsville.

CLARKE: So, there's going to be some change.

KHALIL: That is a big change. I mean, these are big units and they're relocating to Townsville, which is great for the community here. As far as the aesthetics, I'm not an architect. I'll have to. I'll have to report back to you. Have a look this afternoon. But, you know, for functionality, architecture, you know, I think for us, from my perspective, it's really important that the infrastructure, the upgrades that occur, provide the assets necessary for men and women in the ADF to do their jobs and protect Australia.

CLARKE: And with those defence people coming, are we going to see ongoing spending from the government to upgrade services in Townsville, not just at the RAAF base, but beyond that, what are we looking at here to make sure everything goes smoothly in the coming year or so?

KHALIL: Also, when we look at. When I talk about infrastructure, that obviously is about the infrastructure around the base as well. That's certainly been part of the conversations that I've had in facilities and bases across Australia. For example, housing, as you get more people coming in, you need more housing and defence housing. The Minister for responsible, Matt Keogh, announced late last year another almost 500 houses to be built in the region in around Townsville because of that uplift of personnel. And I think also there's about 70 houses that are vacant here, rentals and so on in Townsville, which are going to be filled by November this year, and another almost 500 are going to be built over the next couple of years. So, we are cognisant of the need to develop infrastructure like housing to support the personnel uplift.

CLARKE: Ok, so I just wanted to ask you about that because there has been long running concern that as we have a housing crisis in Townsville at the moment, there have been defence homes sitting without people in them will they be filled by November? 

KAHLIL: Yeah in Aitkenvale. Look, those houses are not fit for purpose and the decision was made to demolish them because they're just not safe and they're not fit for habitation. As I said, There are around 77 properties. 79. 77 properties which will be filled by November that Defence is looking to. And then we're also building another 495 houses, to be precise, in Townsville and the region over the next couple of years.

CLARKE: So, do you know how quickly the demolition will happen on those homes that aren't fit for having people in them or what the process will be?

KHALIL: I'm not sure of the timelines of those. No one's living them at the moment, is my understanding. I'm not sure of the timelines there but I do know that the over 70 properties we've identified in Townsville for accommodation, should start to be filled by November this year.

CLARKE: There has been a wider concern in the community, as we have this housing crisis, that we're going to see a lot more people coming into Townsville with defence jobs. How do we balance that out for this expanding community?

KHALIL: Yeah, it's an interesting challenge, I would say, because this is going to be happening right across northern Australia. There's going to be more people living in regional centres like Townsville where there are defence bases, because there's going to be more personnel coming up here. We are upgrading the bases across the country. We're putting billions of dollars to make sure the infrastructure is upgraded to meet the needs.

CLARKE: But Townsville's a particular focus, isn't it?

KHALIL: Yeah, Townsville is certainly a particular focus. I mean, $700 million investment in Townsville for the infrastructure upgrades here. And it does have an impact on community, positive impact, I would hope, largely. But there are challenges like housing, other infrastructure needs in and around the base. So, I'm cognisant of that as well. And I'm interested in hearing from people in Townsville about what is important for them as the RAAF base starts to grow.

CLARKE We have been talking to those who are piloting and also training for the Apaches. They sound pretty impressive and they're very excited about them coming to Townsville. As a Minister, have you had a chance to travel in an Apache cockpit yet?

KHALIL: No, no, I haven't been in the Apache. I'm looking forward to it. My job is not that exciting, Michael. My job is all the sort of logistics and infrastructure and upgrades and buildings and making sure that they're meeting timelines and so on. But I recognise the excitement around seeing that kind of kit and I look forward to coming to visit them.

CLARKE: Well, it is good to have you here today and good luck with your tour of the RAAF base in Townsville.

KHALIL: Thanks very much, Michael.

CLARKE: Joining us today is the Assistant Minister for Defence, Peter Khalil, with an update on that very interesting and exciting project, $700 million transformation of RAAF Base Townsville that we're going to be seeing over the coming time. A lot of work to happen, a lot of new faces coming to North Queensland as well.

ENDS