Peter Lindsay (Herbert, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the Chief Opposition Whip for facilitating a short contribution from me. As the member representing Australia’s largest army base, Lavarack Barracks in Townsville, North Queensland, I want to support the Prime Minister’s statement to the parliament and I want to support the operations of the ADF overseas. They do a mighty professional job. In Afghanistan, 5 Aviation Regiment from Townsville are operating the CH47 Boeing Chinook helicopters. Our people from 5 Aviation Regiment are putting their lives on the line in assisting the humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan.

I also want to observe of the four soldiers who were injured in Baghdad in the last two days—three of whom were from Townsville; one from Brisbane—that I understand that all four will recover satisfactorily. One soldier was suffering more substantial injuries, but the operation on that particular person was successful. We are very pleased that those soldiers will be able to return to their duties in due course.

Finally, I would like to take a point made by the member for Lingiari when he referred to the government’s intention to look at increasing the size of the Army by another 5,000 people. I certainly have been lobbying very hard to ensure that Townsville is considered as a location for any additional battalion. It would be a huge boost to the city and a logical decision of Army to do that. We can take three battalions in Townsville, and I will continue to lobby the government to get that extra battalion for the garrison city.

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