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WINDFALL:
The Navy is set to benefit from this year’s budget.
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PHOTO:
ABPH Neil Richards
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By
Barry Rollings
Volume
49, No. 8, May 18, 2006
The Naval Aviation Fleet will benefit to the tune of an additional
$26.2 million in 2006-07 to support the Naval aviation capability
as a result of the Federal Budget brought down on May 9.
It is part of the Coalition Government’s long-term commitment
to Defence, with substantial funding increases over the next 10
years.
The Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson, said that this long-term
commitment gives Australia the capacity to build a more combat-focused,
better equipped, more mobile and operationally-ready Defence Force,
enhancing our ability to protect our people, interests and values.
“The 2000 Defence White Paper committed the Government to
increased Defence spending by an average of three per cent real
growth a year from 200-01 to 2010-11, adding a further $28.5 billion
of resources to Defence over that time frame,” Dr Nelson
said.
“These commitments mean that the Defence budget will grow
from $12.6 billion in 200-01 to $26.7 billion by 2015-16.”
Dr Nelson also said that Naval Aviation platforms had made significant
contributions to the defence of Australia, as well as to humanitarian
and disaster relief missions.
“This funding will sure they will continue to operate safely
and effectively,” Dr Nelson said.
With the Government soon to consider options for the early replacement
of the Sea King helicopters, the funding boost covers logistics
support for the Sea King and Sea Hawk utility/combat aircraft
and the Squirrel training aircraft.
The $26.2 million builds on the $102.3 million provided over four
years in the 2004-05 Budget to enhance maintenance and support
work for the Naval Aviation Fleet and has been provided pending
a review of ongoing logistics funding for a number of Australian
Defence Force platforms in the 2007-08 Budget.
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IN
A NUTSHELL
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Other
Navy-related initiatives announced in the Budget, some of
which are part of a $389 million plan to combat illegal foreign
fishing in Australian waters, were:
$95.6 million over four years to operate two Huon Class
Coastal Mine Hunter vessels to increase surveillance and patrolling
of Australia’s maritime approaches.
$76.3 million committed to the redevelopment of HMAS Cairns;
construction due to begin in the second half of 2006, subject
to Parliamentary clearance.
$24.9 million for the establishment of a lone-range helicopter
response capability to deal more effectively with foreign
vessel landings and abandoned boats.
$18.5 million over three years from 2006-07 to enhance charting
of the Torres Strait northern Great Barrier Reef to enable
Defence and Customs vessels and other enforcement agency vessels
to navigate reliably in previously unchartered waters where
illegal activity may occur.
$13.9 million for upgraded port facilities at Darwin Naval
Base to support the new Armidale-class patrol boats. The work
is being staged to allow for the continuing operations of
the base and the total project cost is $19.2 million.
$2 million for the establishment of a dedicated patrol/response
vessel stationed in the northern waters of the Great Barrier
Reef Park.
$1.4 million for maintaining the ongoing commitment to the
High Seas Task Force on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated
Fishing. |
