CANBERRA, Aug 27: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd revived a plan to move Australia’s navy north and out of its eastern base in Sydney Harbour today, just three months after a major review of defence strategy ruled out the shift.
Rudd, who is campaigning for re-election on September 7, said he wanted to resurrect the plan to base new missile destroyers and amphibious assault carriers in the northern city of Brisbane. That would allow faster deployment to potential hotspots or humanitarian diasters in the South Pacific.
The move would enable the government to close its Garden Island navy base in the busy Sydney Harbour, which could then be used by cruise ships which jostle for limited space in a popular destination for cruise liners.
“This would include a major strategic decision to deploy the navy’s most important ships where they will be best-placed to protect Australia’s interests and quickly respond to challenges,” Rudd said in an election speech in Sydney.
The idea was recommended by a 2012 review of Australia’s defence posture, which said Brisbane would be a better base for the major naval ships because it was closer to the South Pacific.
But a defence White Paper, released on May 3 and drawn up while former leader Julia Gillard was prime minister, ruled out Brisbane. It cited problems with dredging, land acquisition and an estimated A 6 billion dollar (5.43 billion dollar) cost.
“All suggest that establishing a fleet base in Brisbane would be challenging and require significant continued investment for it to remain sustainable,” the white paper said.
(AGENCIES)
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