The Country Caller

EXCLUSIVE: Chopper crash victims identified as recovery mission continues

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By KATE BANVILLE | EXCLUSIVE

THE Caller can reveal the identities of the four Australian aviators missing at sea following a helicopter crash near Hamilton Island during military training exercise Talisman Sabre on Friday night.

Captain Danniel Lyon and Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent were piloting the MRH-90 with senior loadmaster Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph “Phil” Laycock and his offsider Corporal Alexander Naggs also on board.

A ship equipped with SONAR (Sound Navigation and Ranging) is expected to arrive at the search location Sunday morning to scan the ocean floor in search of sunken debris, including the voice cockpit recorder and air frame.

The four members were part of the Australian Army’s premier rotary wing unit based in Sydney to provide air support to special force’s operations.

“They’re part of a really tight team, a very highly professional, highly skilled aviation unit,” he told reporters on Sunday,” Australian Army chief Simon Stuart said.

“I couldn’t be more proud of them – as professionals, as soldiers and as people.”

(L) Highly respected Troop Commander Captain Danniel Lyon of the 6th Aviation Regiment is among the four Australian aviators involved in a catastrophic MRH-90 chopper crash on July 28. (R) Aircrewman Corporal Alexander Naggs of the 6th Aviation Regiment who was a former rifleman of the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, was well regarded amongst peers.

“My thoughts and prayers are with their families and mates here at the Sixth Aviation Regiment as they wait for more news about their loved ones,” he said.

“We will continue to support their families and mates in the coming days, weeks, months and years no matter the outcome.”

All four Australian Army members on board – two pilots and two loadmasters – were from Sydney’s 6th Aviation Regiment.

The Caller understands the 173 Squadron members were taking part in a restricted mission providing non tactical air transport to special forces operators of the 2nd Commando Regiment when the MRH-90 Taipan crashed into waters off Lindeman Island at about 10.30pm on Friday night.

(L) Lieutenant Max Nugent of the 6th Aviation Regiment who was one of two pilots onboard the MRH-90 involved in the catastrophic crash. (R) Father of three and highly respected senior special operations aircrewman Joseph Laycock of the 6th Aviation Regiment who is among those missing.

Confronting images have emerged of the crash debris which spans approximately 20 kilometres from Dent Island near Hamilton Island to as far north as Dingo Beach off Bowen.

Defence insiders have told the Caller the missing aircrew were part of a four ship assault – which is a type of flying formation – tasked with inserting special forces operators on the island when things went horribly wrong.

It’s understood the helicopter, which was number 83 in the packet, impacted the water at speed.

A frantic search and rescue effort followed immediately after the aircraft crashed until the three remaining MRH-90 choppers crewed by 6 AVN REGT members were stood down, with the entire MRH-90 fleet now grounded amid investigations.

Defence insiders privvy with the search and rescue have told the Caller it was unlikely there would be any signs of life, and this was now a recovery mission.

The large scale search efforts are ongoing with aircraft and crew from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States operating 24 hours across multiple maritime and aircraft platforms in a desperate effort to locate the missing personnel.

Defence Minister Richard Marles was expected to inspect the exercises alongside US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin in North Queensland on Sunday.

News of the crash has cast a pall on concurrent AUSMIN talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin with Mr Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Brisbane.

Recovery of the MRH-90 helicopter wreckage near Hamilton Island. IMAGE: 9 News

A long time friend and fellow aircrewman told the Caller the tight knit aviation community has banded together following the shock of losing their own.

Unable to be identified due to the nature of his work and security clearance, he said Corporal Phil Laycock was not only a friend but a true professional.

“Phil is a great soldier and natural leader but most importantly a great family man, father,” he said.

“Phil is a top human being and a great army aviator.”

Navy and Queensland police divers have commenced operations today to assist in the search and rescue operation, Queensland Police Service said in a statement.

Members of the public who locate debris are urged not to handle it and to contact police. Handling of any debris could impact on investigations or cause injury.

An exclusion zone remains in place in waters south of Hamilton Island. The exclusion zone incorporates waters from the southern tip of Long Island, east to Perseverance Island, south to Cole Island, and west to the mainland at Round Head. There is also an exclusion zone of 1000 metres from any military vessel.

Map showing the helicopter search zone. IMAGE: QPS

NOTICE: Australian Defence Force support services

1. Defence All-hours support line – The All-hours Support Line (ASL) is a confidential telephone service for ADF members and their families that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1800 628 036.

2. Defence Member and Family Helpline – Operates 24-7, if you need support, help, or advice at any time, call 1800 624 608. The Defence Member and Family Helpline is staffed by qualified human services professionals including social workers and psychologists.

3. A network of dedicated mental health professionals at health centres located at major Defence bases is available to provide or facilitate support for ADF members both on-base and off-base. For out-of-hours or away-from-base assistance, members can call 1800 IMSICK (1800 467 425) to locate the nearest support. More information is available via the Mental Health Portal at: https://www1.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/health-well-being/services-support-fighting-fit/mental-health-online

4. Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling (formerly VVCS) provides free and confidential counselling and support for current and former serving ADF members and their families. They can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046 or visit the Open Arms website for more information.

5. Open Arms also has Safe Zone Support which can be accessed at: https://www.openarms.gov.au/safe-zone-support.

6. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) provides immediate help and treatment for any mental health condition, whether it relates to service or not. If you or someone you know is finding it hard to cope with life, call Open Arms on 1800 011 046 or DVA on 1800 838 372. Further information can be accessed on the DVA website.

A full list of welfare support services is available at: https://www.defence.gov.au/about/reviews-inquiries/afghanistan-inquiry/welfare-support

EXCLUSIVE: Talisman Sabre halted as four feared dead in chopper crash

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By KATE BANVILLE | EXCLUSIVE

MAJOR international military training exercise ‘Talisman Sabre’ has been put on hold entirely amid frantic search efforts for four Australian aviators feared dead in an army helicopter crash Friday night.

The MRH 90 Taipan helicopter, similar to the one picture below, went down about 10.30pm into waters off Hamilton Island.

A search is underway and the families of the four crash victims have been notified.

The Caller can confirm the aircraft and its four crew members were from Sydney’s 6th Aviation Regiment, Holsworthy Barracks. The Caller is aware of the identify the four Australian Army personnel involved.

The Caller understands the aircraft was taking in part in a non-tactical flight known as a ‘green move’ that involved a second chopper, which immediately began search and rescue efforts.

An Australian Army MRH 90 Taipan helicopter, similar to the one involved in the fatal crash near Hamilton Island. IMAGE: Supplied

The MRH90 was part of a multi airframe taskgroup including crews and aircraft from Australia, United States and New Zealand.

The Caller can confirm the MRH90 fleet has been grounded and aircrew stood down as an investigation is underway. It’s understood all members of the 6th Aviation Regiment detachment will be flown home today.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released a statement Saturday morning confirming the four members on board were yet to be found.

“Our first thoughts are with the loved ones of the missing,” Albanese said.

“All Australians hold them in our hearts and we hold on to hope as the search and rescue teams go about their work right now.

“We have the utmost confidence in their professionalism and skill.”

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Earlier this year Australia announced it was ditching the MRH-90 Taipan in replacement for the US-built Black Hawk choppers, which are being flown as part of Talisman Sabre.

The cancellation of the MRH90 – French manufacturer Airbus for NATO comes on the back of continued reports exposing a long string of faults involving near catastrophic events, budget blow outs including maintenance issues which led to the Taipan fleet being grounded on multiple occasions.

The exercise of more than 31,000 members from 13 nations is expected to remain on pause for the remainder of the day, with adjustments to be made to aviation elements previously planned in support of military operations.

A press conference is expected to be held in Brisbane later today to provide an update on the crash.

More to come.

NOTICE: Australian Defence Force support services

5. Open Arms also has Safe Zone Support which can be accessed at: https://www.openarms.gov.au/safe-zone-support.

A full list of welfare support services is available at: https://www.defence.gov.au/about/reviews-inquiries/afghanistan-inquiry/welfare-support

WATCH: Troops build floating highway off Qld coast

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By KATE BANVILLE

A ‘highway on water’ is taking shape off the North Queensland coast as the US military attempts its largest ship-to-shore logistics operation to date.

The small fishing and farming town of Bowen has become the command and control centre for the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) maritime operation.

It’s one of dozens of military scenarios playing out across regional Australia as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre (TS23).

More than 30,000 members from 13 nations are participating in the exercise at large with the JLOTS one of very few involving only Australia and the United States, relying heavily on Australian agencies due to the various customs, government, and legislative requirements.

American and Australian Defence personnel working off the coast of Bowen. IMAGE: Supplied

Task Force Commander, Colonel Samuel Miller told the Caller planning and ongoing liaison with civilian authorities began months in advance with a strict requirement to meet all relevant requirements in accordance with Australian law.

“Any interaction with the police, government or border force in and around our operation, sometimes we find we need to go to our ADF counterpart to help facilitate that,” Col Miller said.

The area of operation has an added complexity due to zoning within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and is subject to Queensland’s Reef Regulations.

Col Miller said extra precautions were in place to meet the requirements, which are enforceable by Australian law.

“With the environmental piece we have one particular individual as an advisor who is instrumental and we have now two Australian counterparts and another US counterpart,” he said.

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More than 700 US soldiers and sailors have been working 24-hour shifts on the ships and on the beach to manually construct the almost 600m long pier which will be used as a ‘highway’ to transport military equipment from the ship to shore.

The large-scale mission, which has been mastered by very few militaries internationally, has been most commonly used to resupply and assist during humanitarian operations and recovery efforts after natural disasters, which have left coastal communities isolated without critical infrastructure and food or water.

The operation has more recently been relied on in Antarctica to get supplies and cargo in and out of the region when sea ice has melted.

It’s the first time this training has occurred in Australia and while it’s typically designed for safe environments, it can be conducted in combat, according to Col Miller.

“I think we have to recognise in today’s world that there’s a lot more competition – we’re cognisant of the area that we’re operating in.

“Even back in the United States, we’ve kind of changed our way of thinking a little bit to where you could link it to cyber for example, your competitors can reach further distances.

“Part of the capability we’re going to demonstrate is you don’t necessarily need a fixed port, you can operate in a degraded port from a typhoon all the way up to entering a shoreline at different locations.”

Achieving it requires a truly joint effort between many arms of the US military with personnel from the Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard.

Soldiers taking part in the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore maritime operation. IMAGE: Supplied

The use of JLOTs dates back to World War II, but with much of the focus on rail, long haul and airlift logistics for the past two decades, maritime has been less common.

With more than two decades and multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as a logistician, Staff Sergeant Arcelia Staggers conceded there has been a shift in how, where and what kind of logistics operations are prioritised amid competition for power globally.

“If you look at Russia and the war in Ukraine, one of Russia’s failures was that they didn’t understand logistics sustainment,” SSgt Staggers said.

“It’s the first time we’re executing this here and it’s really critical not only for our partnerships here in Australia but our combatant commanders who we’re providing the doorway for them through JLOTS.

“It’s another way to enter into any theatre (of war).

“We’re here posturing ourselves, exercising our equipment and exercising our capability, allowing our soldiers and our partners to get the hands-on training to become more proficient and effective with their equipment.”

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Executing the maritime logistics operation is best described as the creation of Lego pieces which are able to be reconfigured into different shapes and sizes to suit the environment and equipment while being held in location largely by tug boats.

A larger ship, in this case ‘The Fisher’ is used to carry the deconstructed pieces of the pier and larger equipment such as cranes and tug boats are needed to build it.

Once these are unloaded and the ‘highway on water’ starts taking shape the tug boats drag it to a second ship known as ‘The Bob Hope’ which stabs the pier into the beach as part of a precision manoeuvre.

As part of TS23, the operation is being carried out at Kings Beach where cargo including infantry fighting vehicles and tanks will be driven ashore to support and resupply ongoing tactical missions taking place throughout Central and North Queensland.

SSgt Staggers said morale among troops was high, with everyone aware of the precarious nature of geopolitical relations in the Indo-Pacific.

“Our soldiers know how critical they are to the mission, each and every one of them,” she said.

“Without their skill set, this mission would not be possible so absolutely our soldiers are doing an amazing job – great work, and our partners in the Navy and our Coast Guard partners as well.”

Residents’ plea to push Transport Corridor west

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By CAITLIN CROWLEY

WESTBROOK residents have mapped an alternate route for the controversial Toowoomba North South Transport Corridor and called on Minister Mark Bailey to meet with them, after describing the consultation process so far as a “cold-hearted box-ticking exercise.”

Matt Norton (main picture) said it took him just 15 minutes using Google Earth and “local knowledge” to chart a path for the New England Highway which didn’t impact any houses and utilised more existing roads, by pushing the corridor further west.

He said several locals came up with the same alternate route and they would be presenting it to the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) as their preferred option.

Part of the alternate route developed by Westbrook residents. IMAGE: Supplied

“They’ve (TMR) put it right through an area which is flood prone, has good soils, but it’s also small properties,” Norton said.

“If you head further west you’ve got bigger properties, you’ve got less houses to destroy and less landowners to deal with.

“I’ve now talked to a range of people and everyone’s come up with essentially the same option independently, it seems just too simple.”

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Norton said the corridor should also be pushed further west to avoid stunting the future growth of Westbrook itself.

“If this is going to be a true bypass in 30 years time, it needs to go further west because Toowoomba will spread,” he said.

“Westbrook is a massive growth centre strategically for Toowoomba Council for the net 30 plus years. What they’ve done is aligned a 30 year infrastructure project with a 15 year planning horizon for Toowoomba Council.

“By the time this project is built in its current location it will be a road through the middle of Toowoomba’s outer suburbs or Westbrook’s broader footprint.”

The only map of the proposed corridor TMR has provided online.

Norton is among a growing number of voices calling for TMR to improve its community consultation efforts after impacted landowners were blindsided by news their properties could be resumed for the long term road project.

While Transport Minister Mark Bailey told the Caller he’d been advised by the department the consultation process being used was “considered industry best practice”, Wellcamp resident Mikaela Smith described it as an “absolute disaster”.

She said received a notification letter two weeks after consultation had started telling her the corridor would cut straight through the family home she only moved into last April.

“I bawled my eyes out,” Smith said. “It was absolutely horrible to see the lines going straight through the middle of our almost million dollar home.

“We’ve worked so hard to get to the point where we’re at to build this dream home where we wanted to stay forever – the land has been in our family for over 80 years.

“There’s just so many other routes that could be looked at and investigated and existing roads that could be upgraded, that should be used.”

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Mayor Geoff McDonald wants TMR to host a series of community meetings. IMAGE: Country Caller

New Toowoomba Mayor Geoff McDonald (pictured left) also called on TMR to host a series of community forums to better engage with the community.

“The Department of Transport and Main Roads need to engage with affected landholders with a series of public information forums to provide a detailed explanation of the project prior to the feedback deadline,” McDonald said.

“This is vital to ensuring all views are considered as well as giving affected landholders information relevant to the project.”

Matt Norton said TMR’s consultation had been a “cold-hearted box-ticking exercise” which left it up to the community and local politicians to organise in-person information sessions.

“We’d love to see Mark Bailey out here – he’s been invited multiple times by Pat Weir’s office, by the community,” Norton said.

“We need this road as a community, this road is beneficial to us.

“Everyone I talk to says ‘great idea – wrong spot’. All we’re asking for is a bit of consideration to go further west, achieve the same outcome, utilise existing roads, potentially save some cost.”

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Transport Minister Mark Bailey didn’t comment on whether he would meet with residents, but did confirm TMR representatives would be attending the community forums organised by local MPs to provide further information.

“Face-to-face community consultation sessions will be held in the coming weeks and the times and locations will be made available on TMR’s website,” Bailey said.

“This is the very early stages of the consultation and it won’t be the last time the Toowoomba community will have the opportunity to have their say.”

There will be a community meeting at Westbrook’s Aberfeldy Barn at 6pm Monday July 31. For more information on the Transport Corridor head to TMR’s website.

UniSQ Professor’s research on Ag insecticide bugbear

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By SOPHIE VOLKER | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

LIKE a moth to a flame, Professor Robbie Girling was always drawn to insects.

Flipping through the pages of his family photo albums was a time capsule of creepy crawlies from holidays’ past – grasshoppers, locusts, dragonflies, and bees, among others.

So, it shouldn’t have been particularly surprising that he would grow up to become an entomologist.

But Professor Girling – the newly appointed Director of the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Systems at the University of Southern Queensland – said he never expected to become an academic.

A young Robbie Girling helping collect a swarm of bees in his back garden in South London. IMAGE: Supplied

“Until towards the end of high school, I was never considered a particularly academic student,” Girling joked.

“I think if anybody had told my family when I was 14 that I’d end up being a professor and becoming a director of a research centre, they would have been very surprised.”

But it was Girling’s fascination with solving problems that eventually drew him down the Life Sciences path.

“As a kid, I always took things apart and tried to understand how they worked so I could fix them. What really inspired me was the chance to solve problems,” he said.

“I guess that problem-solving mindset, combined with my interest in insects, ended up naturally coming together to form my career in sustainable ag,” he said.

Girling’s early PhD research investigated the unique ways predatory insects use smells from plants to work out whether the plant was infested with pests that it could feed on. From there, he extended his research interests to look more broadly at sustainable agricultural systems.

UniSQ’s Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Systems focuses on finding a balance between producing enough food to feed a growing population and reducing the environmental impacts.

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“It’s about making sure we manage our farming systems while considering the economic, environmental and social contexts to ensure they are sustainable in the long term, so they remain healthy and productive for future generations,” Girling said.

He said improvements in sustainability were achieved by making intentional, but powerful, changes – like reducing the use of broad-spectrum insecticides and searching for alternatives, like targeted insecticides and biopesticides, which would allow beneficial predatory insects to remain so farmers could benefit from the natural pest-controls they provided.

University of Southern Queensland researcher Dr Benjamin Allen in the field. IMAGE: Supplied

Girling said one of the biggest barriers to making these kinds of changes was finding cost-effective solutions for producers and consumers.

“Everybody has a budget to manage, and at the moment it’s even harder with the cost of living increases,” he said.

“If you gave people the choice between two identical apples at exactly the same price, but you told them one was organic and the other conventionally produced using synthetic insecticides, I suspect that most people would prefer the organic option.

“It’s about finding clever solutions that actually work, in a sustainable fashion, to keep the costs down and the pests down at the same time.”

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Girling said it was an ongoing challenge to help people understand the importance of beneficial insects and sustainable pest control systems. But he said there were some little ears who were always eager to listen.

“I quite often find the younger generations – the kids – are much more interested in bugs and insects than adults,” he said.

“As you grow up, you tend to grow out of it. Obviously, I didn’t!”

Learn more about the research the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Systems is conducting at the University of Southern Queensland.

Explosive start to Talisman Sabre in CQ scrub

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By KATE BANVILLE

A MIGHTY show of military firepower was on display in Central Queensland’s Shoalwater Bay to ‘neutralise enemies’ as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre (TS23).

The strike-fire attack began with the roaring sounds of attack helicopters and fighter jets above (F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, AC-130 gunship, UH-1 Viper, and AH-1 Cobra), before the training field was swallowed by a cloud of dust and gunpowder as heavy ground fire thumped down on a fictional enemy using some of the world’s most lethal weapons during the activity on Saturday at the military training area near Rockhampton.

It was a chance for Australia and the United States to test out their M-777A2 towed artillery systems and United States High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) which Australia is set to acquire as per the government’s announcement back in January.

United States Army 17th Field Artillery Brigade High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) during the Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 firepower demonstration at Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland. IMAGE: Supplied

Staff Sergeant Jimmy Lerma, who was in charge of one of the US sections, said HIMARS provided critical fire cover in defence of an enemy.

“It provides a very heavy impact in a very short amount of time,” SSgt Lerma said.

“It’s a lot of firepower in one go and what it does is it enables the guys that we’re supporting to have time and space to think about what they’re doing, so that they don’t have an enemy acting on them as they’re trying to think about what their next move is.”

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And for the first time on Australian soil, The Republic of Korea fired its K-9 self-propelled howitzers.

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force had intended to launch its Chu-SAM surface-to-air missile but missed its short window for air clearance, according to an initial assessment shortly after the activity concluded.

Australia’s Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Greg Bilton said the Japanese would have been disappointed given earlier rehearsals went off without a hitch.

“We’ve got air clearance because it goes actually to a very high altitude and the radar, as I understand it wasn’t able to acquire the drone adequately that we could safely fly,” LT GEN Bilton said.

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force later confirmed the surface-to-air missile had since been fired in another scenario at Shoalwater Bay.

United States Marine Corps, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) firing an M777 howitzer during the Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 firepower demonstration at Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland. IMAGE: Supplied

While the live fire was heavily featured, LT GEN Bilton said the scenario included many more layers of complexity beyond what the naked eye could see.

“We can apply effects in space essentially with satellites,” LT GEN Bilton said.

“And then the other capabilities are cyber capabilities and I’ll leave that to your imaginations with a pretty broad range of targets for them.

“That multinational team working together, identifying the target, passing the targeting data, and then engaging the targets.

“And so much of the learning is before the weapon system is even fought on this exercise.”

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The activity was historic for a number of reasons. The Republic of South Korea and Japan are not typically training partners and it’s an enormous logistical feat to get thousands of military personnel, equipment and ammunition to Australia, particularly for nations like Germany.

Captain Svend Heidbrecht of Germany’s Airborne Infantry Regiment 31 said Talisman Sabre provided an opportunity to test logistics as well as battlefield tactics given the distance of travel.

“This is especially important because we have a training opportunity here that we will never get at home, it is completely new and a different environment which has its own unique challenges,” Capt Heidbrecht said.

“Since possible deployments could take us anywhere in the world we’re pretty glad that we can be here in that environment because something we’re not used to. So I think, for us, as we don’t know where our next mission is going to bring us.

All of this is happening under the watchful eye of China following confirmation one of its spy vessels was edging closer to Australia.

Section Chief from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Sergeant Lewan Patrick poses in front of a United States Marine Corps M777 howitzer during the Exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 firepower demonstration at Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland. IMAGE: Supplie

“We know it continues to transit towards this part of the coastline and it will stay outside of our contiguous sites 24 nautical miles beyond its norm that’s consistent with international law,” LT GEN Bilton said.

“Their (China) behaviors on previous exercises have been exactly that and I don’t expect to change or constrain what you can do in the exercise.”

LT GEN Bilton said the Australian military had been in contact with the vessel which provided a ‘courteous response’ as would be expected while in international waters.

The large-scale exercise has more than 30,000 military personnel deployed across Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and New South Wales.

Next week, the Deputy Prime Minister will travel to North Queensland with United States Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J. Austin III to visit Australian and US service members in the field.

Crisafulli’s “one regret” from his time in government

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By HARRY CLARKE

QUEENSLAND’S aspiring future premier has promised to address the “absolute bugbear” of local governments if elected next year, saying his failure to do so while he was a minister in the Newman Government was a major regret from his time in office.

Speaking at a business networking event hosted by the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce, Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said longstanding rules around local councils’ asset depreciation schedule caused a significant financial burden for local governments when they set their annual budgets.

Under Queensland Treasury laws, councils must set aside money to offset the value depreciation of council-owned assets, even when the asset was provided by grants from state and federal governments.

But Crisafulli said the required cash reserves were nothing more than “funny money” that could be put to better use by councils in funding new projects or providing general local government services.

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“I have one regret (from my time as Local Government Minister),” Crisafulli said.

“I didn’t force treasury to bring to the table the change to the depreciation schedule that I wanted.

“The depreciation schedule at the moment for councils is broken and, on the back of it, everyone is paying rates and being denied services for assets that would never be replaced if state and federal government money wouldn’t come in, and it is unfair on communities.

“I think that that change alone will unleash a whole lot of money that will enable you to depreciate and maintain assets that you actually have to, rather than spending funny money on things that just do not exist.”

The Roma Saleyards were redeveloped in 2019 thanks largely to State and Federal Government funding. IMAGE: Supplied

Using the example of the $8 million redevelopment of the council-owned Roma Saleyards, Shadow Local Government Minister Ann Leahy said ratepayers were missing out on services because of money being set aside to cover the saleyards’ value depreciation.

The 2019 saleyards redevelopment was funded predominantly by state and federal government grants, however it’s the Maranoa Regional Council’s onus to account for the asset’s value deprecation.

“One hundred percent of that sits on the depreciation schedule, so the ratepayer has to fully fund the replacement of that over the life of that asset, when in reality it won’t be replaced unless there is further grant funding coming through,” Leahy (pictured) said.

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“That is the challenge that every local government faces. They’re required to have asset management plans which helps them quantify the age of their assets and the time frame that they need to depreciate those over, so that they do have the cash on hand to do that replacement.

“Not all are successful in funding their depreciation and they regularly get criticised by the auditor general in that regard. That is the problem – they are required to do that. It’s been like that for a long time, and it’s time to have a look at it.”

Asked what strategy would be needed to ease the burden on council budgets, Leahy said the issue was “very complex” and a solution would be “looked at” if the LNP were to win office at next year’s Queensland Government election.

Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive officer Alison Smith, said the current asset depreciation schedule created an unfair imposition on councils and highlighted a fiscal imbalance that existed in government funding and service delivery.

“Ultimately, this shows why Queensland’s 77 councils need a fair funding increase,” Smith (pictured) said.

“Councils only receive 3 percent of all government taxation revenue – around 82 percent goes to the Federal Government, and the rest to state governments. Yet councils provide 33 percent of services – so we need a debate to ensure councils get a fairer deal.

“Every year the Queensland Auditor-General hands down a report into the finances of local government, and every year this report calls for long term funding certainty for councils.

“This year’s report showed 46 councils are at moderate to high risk of not being financially sustainable; that’s increased from 45 councils the year before.

“The cost of living pressures are being felt by everyone. So when funding to councils is cut or goes backwards without indexation – that’s a cut to community liveability.”

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Deputy Premier and Minister for Local Government, Steven Miles, said the Palaszczuk Government continued to deliver “more and better funding” for council across the state, totalling more than $2.4 billion through funding and grants programs since 2015.

“We provide significant funding to councils through initiatives such as the Works for Queensland program, the South East Queensland Community Stimulus Program, the Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program, the Indigenous Councils Funding Program, the Indigenous Councils Critical Infrastructure Program, and Building our Regions,” Miles said.

“We also fund one-off, special projects such as emergency upgrades to Paroo’s Sewage Treatment Plant and upgrading water treatment infrastructure for Torres Shire.

“Our recent budget included $69.85 million for the Indigenous Council Funding Program alone.

“Our invest is assisting councils to build or maintain critical and social infrastructure, assist with operational costs, and help create and sustain local jobs.”

Federal funding for rural health junior doctor training

SUPPLIED | MARK BUTLER MP

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HUNDREDS of junior Queensland doctors will have the chance to undertake training in regional and rural areas in a boost to the local health workforce thanks to the an Albanese Government program aimed at attracting doctors to careers in rural healthcare.

More than $17 million in funding has been provided to Queensland Health through the Albanese Government’s John Flynn Prevocational Doctor Program.

340 junior doctors across Queensland will have the opportunity to broaden their experience and skill base as part of a national program designed to boost doctor numbers in regional and rural areas.

The funding will allow junior doctors employed by Queensland Hospital and Health Services (HHS) to undertake a rotation at a rural private general practice or approved primary care facility over the next two years.

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This includes Wide Bay, Townsville, Mackay, Darling Downs, Central Queensland, and Cairns and Hinterland, as well as Bamaga, Thursday Island, Cooktown Hospital and primary care services in Far North Queensland.

“Ensuring that people who live in rural and regional areas can get the health care they need closer to home is a priority for the Australian Government,” said Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler

“We know that doctors who train in rural and remote regions are more likely to stay in the regions.

“Our John Flynn Prevocational Doctor Program provides a unique opportunity for doctors to live and work in rural and remote communities, build relationships with patients, and increase their skillset.

“And it provides patients in these areas with a more stable, locally trained workforce they can count on.”

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Participating general practices and primary care facilities:

Emerald Medical Centre
Theodore Medical Centre
Goondiwindi Medical Centre
Ochre Medical – Oakey
Ochre Medical – Wyalla
Millmerran MPHS
Awal Medical Centre (Sarina)
Affinity Family Medical (Cannonvale)
South Side Medical Centre (Mackay)
Ashfield Country Practice (Windermere)
Grace Family Practice and Skin Care (Bargara)
Monto Hospital
Mundubbera MPHS
Babinda MPHC
Mossman MPHS
Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services Aboriginal Corporation (Yarrabah)
Ayr Health Service
Gold City Medical Centre (Charters Towers)
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland) will also continue to receive junior doctors from Cairns and Hinterland HHS that were previously received under a separate Commonwealth Government program

Council culture called out as McDonald named Mayor

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By CAITLIN CROWLEY

TOOWOOMBA has a new Mayor and Council has an opportunity to “reset as a group” according to Geoff McDonald, who was promoted to the top job by his colleagues after a heated meeting today.

The vote to select Paul Antonio’s successor exposed deep rifts within Council ranks after veteran Councillor Carol Taylor (pictured below) used her pitch for Mayor to highlight sexism and what she described as “factions” within the group.

Councillor Taylor said she’s been treated equally everywhere she’s ever worked, but “not here.”

“I believe that our gender diversity is not valued to date and I’m very disappointed about that,” Taylor said.

“I never found any sort of discrimination until I came here to this Council.

Councillor Carol Taylor during today’s meeting.

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“Factions are not appropriate on this Council – they have been there – it’s not appropriate.”

“Our community is special, it’s diverse and it’s unique and it deserves Councillors who are inclusive and work as a team for the common good.

“Our culture in Council is not great and whilst we will always have different ideas, until we value everyone at this table – we are falling short of what our community deserves.”

Geoff McDonald, who becomes Mayor after 10 years as a Toowoomba Councillor, hinted at the need for cultural change in his speech before the vote, mentioning the need to be “inclusive” three times.

He said the change in mayoralty provided the opportunity for elected representatives to “reset as a group”.

“We need to be supportive of each other, be willing to have robust, inclusive debate, with a clear focus on the best outcomes for our people. Inclusive, robust and clear on our future,” McDonald said.

“We need to ensure all council staff are valued and empowered and feel safe to be the change makers of our organisation and be confident to bring forward ideas on how council can improve.”

Geoff McDonald making his pitch for Mayor.

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All Councillors except Carol Taylor voted in favour of Geoff McDonald becoming the region’s next Mayor.

When asked by the Caller what he was going to do to bring the group together in light of Cr Taylor’s concerning comments, Geoff McDonald acknowledged that “opportunities and areas of improvement are there”.

“The benefit of change in any organisation is the opportunity to improve and there is absolutely no doubt that the elected representatives, each and every one of them are absolutely, totally committed to doing their absolute best,” he said.

“We’re in this – we’re in this for the community and we’re in this together.”

McDonald said he had “never met a greater group of people” who were “fearlessly committed to doing their best for the community”.

“That’s our promise to the region and that’s our promise to the people within the organisation, that’s our promise to the people right across our community,” he said.

Mayor McDonald indicated next Friday July 28 is likely when Council will meet to appoint a new Deputy Mayor and a new Councillor will fill the vacant spot by September’s Ordinary Meeting at the latest.

The changes were triggered by the resignation of former Mayor Paul Antonio, who announced his retirement from local government earlier this month.

Caller tours mega ship ahead of NQ war games

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By KATE BANVILLE

PORTS across Queensland are experiencing an influx of warships from foreign forces as Australia plays host to one of the world’s largest war games – Talisman Sabre.

A Japanese destroyer docked in Brisbane this week, giving troops time on land before going into full-blown battle mode from Saturday when it will begin air, land and amphibious operations up and down Australia’s east coast alongside 12 other countries, including the United States as joint host.

The biennial exercise has almost doubled in size with 30,000 personnel arriving from New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, France, UK, Canada and Fiji.

Indonesia and Germany will be among the countries participating for the first time, with the latter sending 170 paratroopers to participate.

The Philippines, Singapore and Thailand will attend as observers.

And with a backdrop of China’s coercive posturing and increased military action, the communist nation although not invited, is expected to send its spy ships to shadow operations as it’s done in the past.

Captain Amanuma Tomoyuki, Japan’s Defence Attache to Australia, told the Caller a shared belief in a “free and open Indo-Pacific” had strengthened the relationship between the two nations who have gone from enemies less than a century ago to allies.

“It’s a significant time to enhance our cooperation between Japan and Australia,” CAPT Tomoyuki said.

“Australia and Japan have a very similar strategy, the same values for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

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“There are lots of areas where we can cooperate (to deal with) the surrounding defence security environment (which is) demanding every day.”

The JS Izumo, an aircraft carrier, is Japan’s largest naval vessel and first in its fleet.

The ship, which is capable of carrying five helicopters, is also undergoing upgrades to allow fixed wing aircraft on board following the purchase of F35 Bravo fighter jets which are able to track and intercept ballistic missiles.

Executive Officer of the JS Izumo, Commander Naoki Shirasaka said these combined would be critical in its defence strategy to maintain sovereignty and combat undersea warfare.

“Japan is surrounded by the sea so that means if we lose sea lines of communication our people will be cut off,” COMD Shirasaker said.

“That is why submarines are the biggest threat to Japan.

“Helicopter (operations from JS Izumo) is very important because they can find the submarines, also they can attack the submarines and their speed is very fast.”

Defence relations between Australia and Japan has been gradually strengthening in recent years, and formally recognised in 2022 with the signing of The Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation and the Reciprocal Access Agreement.

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Held between 22 July and 4 August, TS23 will stretch from Western Australia, across the NT and Queensland, as well as Jervis Bay in NSW.

Regional Queensland will also play a critical role with mock battlefields mobilised for an airborne drop of troops near Charters Towers and amphibious landings at various locations along the north and central Queensland coast.

Maritime mine-hunting will take place off the coast of Gladstone, and to the far north of the state operations will be conducted from RAAF Base Scherger at Cape York Peninsula.