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A ceremony has been held in Rockhampton to mark the registration of an agreement between Defence and the traditional owners of the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, the Darumbal people.
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The agreement recognises the 20-year relationship between Defence and the Darumbal people as an important milestone in the expansion of the Shoalwater Bay Training Area under the Australia-Singapore Military Training Initiative (ASMTI).
Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said the agreement will have enormous benefits to both the Darumbal traditional owners and the Australian Defence Force for generations to come.
"The Shoalwater Bay Training Area is one of Australia’s most important Defence training areas, and its expansion under the Australia-Singapore Military Training Initiative will help meet the future needs of the Australian Defence Force, enhance Australia’s defence relationship with Singapore and support economic growth in the region," Minister Reynolds explained.
Australia and Singapore enjoy a long history of bilateral and multilateral defence co-operation, through organisations including the Association of South East Asian Nations, Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus and the Five Power Defence Arrangements.
Minister Reynolds added, "I would like to thank and acknowledge the Darumbal traditional owners for their support in making the Indigenous land use agreement a reality."
The Australia-Singapore defence relationship includes the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), which provides for the joint development of military training areas and facilities in Australia and Singapore to continue to exploit the benefits derived from the development of Exercise TRIDENT as the signature bilateral joint military exercise.
Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said the signing of the agreement was an important milestone for the Darumbal people.
"The Indigenous land use agreement puts in place mechanisms that will continue Defence’s collaboration with the Darumbal traditional owners on cultural heritage and future access to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area," Landry said.
Warren Malone, chair of the Darumbal Registered Native Title Body Corporate, said this agreement is a tangible demonstration of their continuous connection to all land and waters of the greater Rockhampton area, including the Shoalwater Bay Training Area.
"It provides certainty around land access and the protection of our cultural heritage and we look forward to continuing our enduring relationship with Defence," Malone said.
The CSP will enable Australia and Singapore to work together on defence science and technology, in areas including combat systems/command, control, communications, computers and intelligence integration; and cognitive/human systems integration.
The ASMTI is delivering enhanced training areas for the Australian Defence Force in central and north Queensland, enhancing Australia’s bilateral defence relationship with Singapore and providing significant local economic opportunities.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
