Fiona Phillips (Gilmore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Nowra is a proud defence and Navy town, home to HMAS Albatross, HMAS Creswell, the Fleet Air Arm and the Royal Australian Naval College. Defence and defence industry are our biggest employers, and I am proud of the amazing work they do for our community and our country. That's why I am absolutely delighted that Nowra's iconic 'chopper on a stick' is coming back. After more than 25 years sitting proudly at the town's northern gateway, the UH-1B Iroquois helicopter, serial 894, was carefully removed from its longstanding post in September 2023 for detailed examination and repairs. But, after more than 20 years exposed to the elements and a decade since its last refurbishment, the aircraft had begun to show significant deterioration. Sadly, a heritage assessment by the Royal Australian Navy's Sea Power Centre confirmed that the helicopter was no longer suitable for public display and posed a potential safety risk to the community.

Since its removal, my community has been crying out for the chopper's return, and I've been working hard to ensure it comes back. Last week, I was thrilled to announce it is coming back. To make its return even more exciting, the people of Nowra have a chance to choose which helicopter will take pride of place back on the stick. They can place their votes online for a life-size model of the UH-1B Iroquois, affectionately known as the 'Huey', which served with the Royal Australian Navy from 1964 to 1989, or a model of the Seahawk helicopter, which has been operated by the Royal Australian Navy since 1988 and represents the contemporary aviation capability of the Fleet Air Arm and the ongoing role HMAS Albatross plays in supporting naval operations.

I've spoken to a lot of former and serving defence personnel, and, believe me, everyone has a very strong opinion about which chopper should return to the stick. Of course, there's the historical attachment to the Huey, which was a much-loved symbol of our town for almost three decades and recognises the significant role the chopper played in the Vietnam War. And then you have the Seahawk Romeo, which local people can see flying overhead and represents HMAS Albatross at Nowra, the Navy's largest operational establishment and home of the Fleet Air Arm. I know how much our community loved the chopper on a stick. In fact, I was stopped in the supermarket over the weekend and congratulated for bringing it back. People are thankful they get to choose.

There's been spirited debate on my social media page as people share their memories of the Huey with its distinctive 'thump thump' sound and their enthusiasm for the future of the mighty Seahawk. One older resident, Steve, said, 'I love the Hueys, as just about everyone my age has seen them in countless movies, but the Seahawk is the present and future of the Navy.' Our poll certainly has people talking, and I'm genuinely so interested and excited to see the poll results after voting closes on 26 March.

In the lead-up to the election, I promised to return the town's icon. I thank the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence for joining me in Gilmore to announce its long-awaited return. Returning a chopper to Nowra's town entrance is so important, and I have been encouraging everyone in the Shoalhaven to have their say and, importantly, to cast their vote. I'm asking people if they will be on team Huey or team Seahawk.

Having a chopper back on that stick represents the critical role our former and current serving defence personnel have played and will continue to play in defending our nation. I hope it will also encourage local young people to consider a career in defence or defence industry. Since its removal, I've been working hard at every step of the way to ensure our prominent Navy icon returns, because that's what our community wants and deserves. I'm absolutely delighted that everyone will get to have their say on this next chapter in Nowra's history. Will it be Huey, or will it be Seahawk? Whichever chopper is chosen, it will be an enduring feature for decades to come and will honour the region's deep ties to the Navy and its proud aviation heritage. I encourage everyone in the Shoalhaven area to cast their vote.