Page 35 - May 2019

Defence
Assistant Minister for Defence ARH Tiger suppor t

inspects HMAS Stirling construction contract extension
works announced

With work scheduled for completion The redevelopment, which has
next year, Assistant Minister for been planned since 2010, features the
Defence David Fawcett has examined following:
the works being delivered by Doris • Infrastructure upgrades;
Contractors under the HMAS Stirling • New buildings;
Redevelopment 3A Project. • Refurbishments; and
HMAS Stirling's primary purpose • Expansions and repairs. The Australian Government has
is to provide operational and logistics The $367 million redevelopment announced an extension to Airbus
support to Royal Australian Navy started in 2017, with the upgrades Australia Pacific’s through-life support
ships, submarines and aircraft based in anticipated to meet requirements until (TLS) contract for the Australian
Western Australia, and is the homeport at least 2030. Army’s Tiger Armed Reconnaissance
for about half of the RAN's major "The strong economic management Helicopter (ARH).
combatant force. of the federal Liberal government The ARH Tiger, first introduced into
“Defence is investing $366.8 million is allowing it to continue to restore service in 2004, has matured into a critical
in this project to provide major upgrade Defence capability after Labor’s savage asset for the Australian Defence Force.
works to address shortfalls in essential $18 billion defence funding cuts, which Minister for Defence, the Hon
services and structures resulting from drove the budget to pre-WW2 levels. We Christopher Pyne MP said the extension
age and the continuing population are also ensuring that local companies, of the current support arrangements
growth at the base. The redevelopment contractors and tradies have a fairer for the ARH Tiger demonstrated the
will support current and projected and bigger slice of the work through Government’s ongoing commitment
operational and support capabilities," recent initiatives such as Local Industry to this important Defence capability
Senator Fawcett said. Capability Plans,” Senator Fawcett while providing long-term certainty
“The project has provided added. for hundreds of defence industry
significant employment opportunities HMAS Stirling was commissioned in employees across Australia.
for approximately 2,000 workers from 1978 and features a Submarine Escape “With an anticipated value of up to
the Perth and Rockingham region, Training Facility, one of only six in the $790 million, this contract will see the
with all subcontractors engaged on the world and the only one constructed in continued employment of 60 staff in
project local to the area. Indigenous the southern hemisphere. Darwin who provide maintenance and
participation is at approximately 5.4 Courtesy Defence Connect logistics support services at Army’s 1st
per cent." Aviation Regiment,” Minister Pyne said.
Minister for Defence Industry,
Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds
CSC, said this investment would see
the retention of 70 staff at the Army
Aviation Training Centre in Oakey,
Queensland, along with a further 130
skilled staff at Brisbane airport who
provide commercial, engineering and
logistics services.
“As part of this arrangement there
is a provision for Airbus to provide long
term labour to support the continued
capability of Army aviation platforms
across Australia.
“It allows Defence to exercise
flexibility to continue its work with
existing industry partners to support and
improve the fleet whilst also meeting the
capability requirements of the Army,”
Minister Reynolds said.
HMAS Stirling provides operational and logistics support to Royal Australian Navy ships,
submarines and aircraft based in Western Australia. Photo LSIS Richard Cordell. https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/

35