MEDIA RELEASE
13 August 2026
LABOR LEAVES TOWNSVILLE EXPOSED AS DRONE ACTIVITY CONFIRMED AT RAAF BASE TOWNSVILLE
The confirmation of a drone activity at RAAF Base Townsville should alarm every Australian and raises serious questions about how the Albanese Labor Government has allowed security breaches to occur at one of the nation’s most important Defence facilities.
Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson said Australians have every right to expect that sensitive military installations are protected from unauthorised aerial intrusions.
“Australians expect our military bases to be secure, not turned into playgrounds by unidentified drones,” Mr Thompson said.
“RAAF Base Townsville plays a critical role in Australia’s defence capability and supports some of our nation’s most important military operations. The fact that an unidentified drone was able to operate in the vicinity of the base is deeply concerning and demands answers.”
Mr Thompson said the situation in Townsville was particularly serious because RAAF Base Townsville operates as a shared facility alongside Townsville Airport, creating risks beyond Defence alone.
“What makes this incident especially concerning is that RAAF Base Townsville shares aviation infrastructure with Townsville Airport, one of Northern Australia’s busiest aviation hubs,” Mr Thompson said.
“This precinct supports not only Defence operations, but also vital emergency and aeromedical services including LifeFlight, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Queensland’s emergency rescue helicopter operations and Queensland Police PolAir.”
“When unidentified drones are operating around this environment, the potential consequences extend far beyond Defence. These aircraft are conducting life-saving missions, emergency medical evacuations, search and rescue operations and critical policing activities.”
“Any interference with these operations could place lives at risk. This is a public safety issue just as much as it is a national security issue.”
Reports of drone activity at Defence facilities around the country have highlighted a growing security challenge, but confirmation that Townsville was among the affected locations brings the issue sharply into focus for North Queensland.
“Our Defence personnel dedicate their lives to protecting Australia. It is a betrayal of those men and women in uniform when the government cannot guarantee the security of the bases they work from every day,” Mr Thompson said.
“The Albanese Labor Government has left Australia’s bases vulnerable, allowing unknown drones to treat our sensitive military facilities as playgrounds demand clear answers about what happened and how it was allowed to occur.”
“Twenty reported incidents across Defence sites nationally demonstrate this is not an isolated event. It points to a broader failure to properly safeguard Australia’s critical military infrastructure.”
Mr Thompson said Australians deserved transparency about what occurred, whether sensitive information was compromised, and what action had been taken to identify those responsible.
“The Prime Minister and the Defence Minister must explain how this activity was able to occur, what measures are in place to detect and defeat rogue drones, and why Australians should have confidence that our most important military facilities are adequately protected.”
Mr Thompson said protecting Australia’s military bases and strategic infrastructure should be a fundamental responsibility of any government, national security isn’t just military hardware, it is our men and woman who play vital roles in the protection of our country.
“Townsville is more than a Defence city. It is a critical military, aviation, logistics and emergency response hub for Northern Australia.”
“When military bases, emergency helicopters, aeromedical services and police aircraft all operate from the same precinct, there can be no room for complacency.”
“The people of Townsville, and Australians right across the country, deserve to know that our Defence facilities are secure and that protecting Australia is being treated with the urgency and seriousness it demands.”
ENDSABOR