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."