RAAF Base Richmond

I want to thank the officers, defence personnel and civilians who made the RAAF Base Richmond open day last month such a success. Yes, it was a bit challenging getting in because no-one wanted to miss a minute and everyone turned up at the same time. But if you were one of the 15,000 people who came to that community day, once you were in, there was a wealth of Air Force and Army aircraft and military equipment on display, to explore inside and out and in the air, from Hercs to the F-35A Lightning II.

There was the Air Force balloon. There were military working dogs—and I've been in one of those  Michelin suits, and it's as scary on the inside as it is watching from the outside. There were people to talk to—our air men and women, civilians and the incredible cadets based at Richmond. I hope that they were inspiration for some of the many young people who came. This was an overdue event. It's been a long time since there was a community open day, and it really gave the community access to something that is much loved and much valued in Hawkesbury.

And I can confidently say that RAAF Base Richmond is not going anywhere. The Labor government has
committed to the biggest investment in the C-130J fleet that's ever happened. Not only does the $9.8 billion investment replace the 12 ageing planes but it adds eight more Hercs, so we'll have a fleet of 20, all produced by Lockheed Martin, starting from 2027. They'll be allocated to No. 37 Squadron at RAAF  Base Richmond. Of course, this means we'll see more investment in the base. There will be additional simulators for training, more personnel will need to be accommodated and it will be busier than ever.

This is on top of the expansion of the National Aerial Firefighting Fleet, which has its New South Wales home in Richmond. I recently joined emergency management minister Jenny McAllister to check out the new national large air tanker and a Cessna Citation lead plane. There are two new Blackhawks and a Sikorsky added to the fleet—based in Sydney as well—so the fleet has the capability for fires and floods. This has been a big expansion of the fleet over the last couple of years, as recommended by the royal commission into the 2019-2020 bushfires.

So RAAF Richmond has a crucial role for our security in multiple ways, as far as the eye can see, and I reckon a full-on air show next year would be a perfect way to mark the 100th anniversary of the base.