Cairns Marine Precinct set to be a major player in Australia’s future security.
With the focus very much on strengthening borders and committing to upgrading marine facilities to cope with future requirements, federal Labor today announced an election promise that would see significant investment in the Cairns Marine Precinct. Concerns raised in recent weeks about China signing a security deal with Solomon Islands has led to both major parties making major announcements on upgrading and building new infrastructure in Cairns. Today it was Labor’s turn with $150m being put on the table to ensure that large Navy and Border Patrol vessels can access the Marine Precinct and be lifted for repairs and servicing.
Opposition Defence spokesperson Brendan O’Connor said, “The investment will cement Cairns as a critical defence hub that will provide support to Australia’s naval fleet for decades to come” (Cairnspost.com.au).
This announcement comes on the back of the Queensland State Government’s $30m commitment to the Cairns Marine Precinct in January 2022.
Cairns has long been a popular destination for cruise ships, superyachts, and commerical and recreational vessels. Issues with depth and available facilities has made it difficult for the port to cater for demand, especially for larger vessels.
Further details on this announcement can be found at: https://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/cairns/regional/election-2022-entsch-lnp-hint-at-major-kuranda-range-funding-announcement/news-story/988102c5ae90eb74b225239f92912c8b