Historically, Darwin has always been strategically very important for Australia, as our gateway to Asia and now what is referred to as the Indo-Pacific region.

We have Army, Airforce, and Navy bases, as well as the AFP and ABF and thousands of Defence personnel and their families who call the Top End home.

Labor has committed to a Force Posture Review and I continue to call upon the Morrison Government to give a clear answer on the future basing and maintenance of platforms such as the Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessels and the Apache helicopters, which were rumoured to be moving from the Territory to Townsville.

This would cost us Territory jobs, and the Government still won’t be straight with  Territorians about what’s going to happen to their livelihoods.

It’s clear that the Liberal/National Coalition Federal Government does not recognise Darwin as the Defence Capital of Australia that it is. A Federal Labor Government will.

I will always fight for proper recognition of our national security role and support the development of the Defence industry in Darwin.