Australia and Singapore may sign accord soon

Australia and Singapore may sign accord soon

SYDNEY (AFP): Australian defense chiefs are close to winning a
lucrative contract to allow up to 1,200 Singaporean military
personnel a foothold on the country's eastern coast, officials
said yesterday.

Brig. Adrian D'Hage, head of information at the Department of
Defense, said the two countries were discussing a proposal to
bring the staff and their families to Australia.

Singapore would shift 12 Super Puma helicopters to the
Australian Army aviation base in Oakey, Queensland, with up to
500 personnel, and base 20 Super Skyhawk advanced jet trainers,
with up to 700 staff, in Amberley, Queensland.

"The proposals are in the advanced discussion stage, we have
not yet signed a memorandum of understanding ... once we do it
may take up to two years for the project to reach its fruition,"
D'Hage said.

The value of the contract to Australia could not be disclosed
at this stage, but it would involve a rent and "substantial
construction" of hangars, tarmac, fuel farms and family
accommodation.

"In recent years, Singapore has had difficulties finding what
we have got plenty of -- and that is space," D'Hage said.

"Being a relatively small island, their airspace is limited
and of course there is increasing pressure from commercial
activity, and the same goes for their geography."

He could not confirm a report in the Sydney Morning Herald
that the Singapore Defense Force had proposed spending more than
A$50 million (US$37 million) on the project.

Singapore already has an air force training school at the
Royal Australian Air Force Pearce Air Base outside Perth in
Western Australia.

The country also occasionally conducts large-scale army
exercises at an Australian training area in Shoalwater Bay on the
Queensland coast.

"First and foremost it reflects the government policy of
greater cooperation, a strong Singapore and of course a strong
southeast Asia -- it is in Australia's interests to assist that,"
said D'Hage.

"We are far more part of that region these days than we were
perhaps 20 years ago and we have a policy now of much greater
cooperation not only in defense but in a large number of other
areas including trade."