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The institution has been awarded a government contract to provide training services to the Navy crews of the Guardian Class patrol boats.
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The federal government has awarded a $36 million contract to TAFE Queensland, which has been tasked with delivering mariner training and support to the Navy crews of the Guardian Class patrol boats.
The five-year contract forms part of the government’s $2 billion Pacific Maritime Security Program, which aims to strengthen maritime capability in the Pacific.
The program involves replacing the existing Pacific Patrol Boats with 21 new Guardian Class patrol boats to 12 Pacific island nations and Timor-Leste.
Acting Minister for Defence Marise Payne said the training contract would be adjusted to meet the changing needs of partner nations.
“A modern and innovative training approach offered by TAFE Queensland will have significant strategic benefits in the Pacific,” Minister Payne said.
“TAFE Queensland has already established important relationships and arrangements with the Commonwealth and Pacific Island country governments, industries and communities.
“This, coupled with their established infrastructure in Australia and experience in delivering services in the Pacific, will enable TAFE Queensland to help achieve the outcomes of the Pacific Step-Up Program and the Pacific Maritime Security Program.”
The contract signing in Cairns was attended by member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch, who welcomed TAFE Queensland’s involvement, which he said would support economic growth in the region.
“Cairns is ideally located to mount and sustain maritime patrol and hydrographic operations, and the base is well served by the local Cairns ship repair industry,” Entsch said.
“This five-year contract will generate 24 new jobs in the region in addition to the more than 400 direct industry ship sustainment jobs in Cairns which are already supporting the Morrison government’s naval shipbuilding and sustainment plan.
“Being located near the broader Cairns Maritime Precinct will allow TAFE Queensland to access and support local companies in Cairns, which comes at such an important time while the economy recovers from the impacts of COVID-19.”
[Related: Defence delivers Guardian Class patrol boat to Tonga]
Charbel Kadib
News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media
Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.
