As Sydney celebrates the International Fleet Review, one federal Liberal backbencher has called for the navy to be relocated to northern Australia, saying there is little practical use for a major fleet hub in the harbour city.
Queensland Senator Ian Macdonald, a long-time advocate of shifting bases north, urged Prime Minister Tony Abbott to make an announcement about moving the country's naval assets.
"Sydney Harbour is very appropriate for this centenary celebration, but I would hope than in 100 years time the bicentennial Fleet Review would be at a major naval base somewhere in Northern Australia," Senator Macdonald said in a statement on Thursday.
"As I have often said, unless we are expecting an attack by the penguins from Antarctica or the New Zealanders, there seems to be little practical use in maintaining a major fleet in Sydney Harbour."
Senator Macdonald nominated sites such as Cairns, Townsville or Darwin as possible sites for new or expanded naval facilities, saying if the fleet was based in the north "they would be much closer to where they might be needed".
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In opposition, Senator Macdonald was parliamentary secretary for Northern and Remote Australia, and for Defence Force and Defence Support.
However, he was dropped from the Abbott ministry after the federal election and later described the demotion as "one of the worst" days of his life.
"The new government must make an immediate start on plans to locate more of Australia's naval assets in the north," Senator Macdonald said.
"I call on the prime minister to use the Fleet Review this weekend in Sydney to make a major announcement on the relocation of the Naval assets to the north."
During the election campaign, then Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd pledged to move Sydney's Garden Island naval base to Brisbane by 2030.
The proposal put him at odds with NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell who complained it would cost the state 4000 jobs.
Mr Abbott criticised the Labor plan as "policy on the run", but said he wasn't against shifting military operations.
Comment is being sought from the prime minister's office.
