Announced in 2015, the Australia – Singapore Military Training Initiative (ASMTI) works to build Defence capability, enhance Australia's bilateral relationship with Singapore, and provide enduring economic benefits to Central and North Queensland.
ASMTI is a key element of the Australia – Singapore’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, outlining the long-term vision to deepen collaboration between the two countries.
On 10 December 2020, The Australian Government and the Government of the Republic of Singapore ratified the Treaty on Military Training and Training Area Development in Australia. The Treaty builds on more than 30 years of Singapore's military training in Australia and underpins Singapore's investment and commitment to delivering the ASMTI.
When the ASMTI reaches maturity, scheduled for 2028, up to 14,000 Singapore Armed Forces personnel will conduct unilateral training for up to 18 weeks a year for 25 years.
Objectives
The key objectives of ASMTI are:
- strengthening Singapore partnerships
- enhancing and developing training areas
- delivering ADF requirements
- engaging local communities
- developing local industry.
Training areas
Under the ASMTI, Singapore will invest in Australia’s development and enhancement of two training areas.
The training areas in Central and North Queensland will be owned and managed by the Commonwealth through the Department of Defence.
Central Queensland
The existing Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Central Queensland is being expanded to the West. The area is approximately 100 kilometres North of Rockhampton. Defence has acquired approximately 110,000 hectares of land for the expansion.
North Queensland
Defence has acquired and is designing a new training area near Greenvale in North Queensland. Defence has acquired approximately 310,000 hectares for the development of the Greenvale Training Area, approximately 215 kilometres Northwest of Townsville.
Timeline
The following activities mark ASMTI's progress and planning.
Year | Activity |
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2015 |
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2016 |
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2017 |
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2018 |
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2019 |
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2020 |
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2021 |
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2022 |
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2023 |
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2024 |
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2027 |
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2028 |
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