Commencing this week, around 1,000 Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel will participate in training activities in Queensland and the Northern Territory as part of Singapore’s annual military training in Australia. Singapore’s flagship training activity, Exercise Wallaby 21, will run from 10 September to 24 October in Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland, involving around 550 personnel. It has been scaled-down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and will include limited helicopter and land manoeuvres, as well as contactless naval training at sea.
A Republic of Singapore Air Force Fighter Detachment has also arrived in Darwin to conduct training exercises from 4 October to 26 November. Australia’s bilateral defence relationship with Singapore is strong and enduring, as reflected in Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Singapore’s military training in Australia is of mutual benefit for our respective armed forces and has provided significant economic opportunities for Australia. The current training will present economic opportunities for local communities in Rockhampton and Darwin.
The arrival of Singapore Armed Forces personnel has been carefully planned, including quarantine arrangements in Australian Defence Force-managed facilities in Brisbane and Darwin. Their arrival and quarantine does not affect the repatriation of Australians from overseas, or impact international arrival caps. All SAF personnel arriving in Australia are fully vaccinated and subject to strict COVID-19 protocols prior to departing Singapore, including a seven-day quarantine period and daily temperature checks.
On arrival in Australia, SAF members immediately undertake a further 14-days of supervised quarantine at Defence-managed facilities. They remain subject to all relevant COVID-19 restrictions while in Australia. The Department of Defence is working closely with the Queensland and Northern Territory Governments, and the Singapore Armed Forces, to ensure all COVIDSafe practices are strictly adhered to.
