--- layout: base.njk og_type: article ---<script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","headline":"Whitsunday Regional Council: Defence and Advanced Manufacturing Strategic Positioning Paper sets new course","description":"Public affairs for Whitsunday Regional Council: a Defence and Advanced Manufacturing Positioning Paper identifying ways to diversify the regional economy.","image":"https://acestrategies.au/assets/repository/images/uploads/ry-collins-richard-marles-1.jpeg","datePublished":"2026-09-14T00:00:00.000Z","dateModified":"2026-09-17T00:00:00.000Z","author":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Ace Strategies","url":"https://acestrategies.au"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Ace Strategies","url":"https://acestrategies.au","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://acestrategies.au/assets/repository/images/ui/logo/aces-logo-header-light-theme.svg"}},"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://acestrategies.au/cases/queensland-whitsunday-regional-council/"}}</script><script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://acestrategies.au/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Cases","item":"https://acestrategies.au/cases/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Queensland Whitsunday Regional Council","item":"https://acestrategies.au/cases/queensland-whitsunday-regional-council/"}]}</script><article class="news-post-container"><header class="mag-hero" data-theme="dark" style="background: var(--navy); padding: 100px 40px 60px;"><div style="max-width:760px;margin:0 auto;display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;text-align:center;"><nav aria-label="Breadcrumb" class="knowledge-breadcrumb knowledge-breadcrumb--light" style="margin-bottom: 24px;"><a href="/">Home</a> <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> <a href="/cases/">Cases</a> <span aria-hidden="true">›</span> <span>Queensland Whitsunday Regional Council</span></nav><span style="letter-spacing: 0.15em; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--sky-blue); font-size: 0.8rem; font-weight: 700; margin-bottom: 16px; display: inline-block;" class="mag-hero__label">Public Affairs & Government Engagement</span><h1 class="mag-hero__headline" style="font-family: var(--font-serif); font-size: 3rem; color: var(--white); line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12px;">Queensland Whitsunday Regional Council</h1><p class="mag-hero__sub" style="font-size: 1.4rem; color: var(--white); opacity: 0.9; font-weight: 300; margin-bottom: 0;">Defence and Advanced Manufacturing Strategic Positioning Paper sets new course</p></div><div class="mag-hero-image-wrap" style="max-width: 900px; margin: 60px auto -140px; border-radius: 12px; overflow: hidden; box-shadow: 0 20px 40px rgba(0,0,0,0.3); aspect-ratio: 16/9; position: relative;"><img alt="Whitsunday Islands" class="mag-hero-image" fetchpriority="high" height="894" loading="eager" src="/assets/repository/images/uploads/ry-collins-richard-marles-1.jpeg" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; object-fit: cover;" width="1206"></div></header><div class="mag-layout" style="max-width: var(--max-width); margin: 180px auto 80px; padding: 0 40px; display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 300px; gap: 80px;"><div class="mag-main" style="min-width: 0;"><div class="mag-body prose" style="color: var(--navy); font-size: 1.125rem; line-height: 1.8;"><p>Ace Strategies supported the Whitsunday Regional Council with a comprehensive Defence and Advanced Manufacturing Strategic Positioning Paper, analysing Federal and State policies, funding pathways, and the National Defence Strategy suite. Drawing on intelligence from defence decision‑makers, we defined a disciplined, evidence‑based role for the region and delivered practical recommendations to leverage its industrial and geographical assets. The review identified unique, high‑readiness opportunities for the Whitsundays to diversify its economy, position itself as a key defence support node and to strengthen Australia’s resilience.</p></div></div><aside aria-label="Case information" class="mag-sidebar" style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 32px;"><div class="mag-author-card"><span class="mag-author-card__org">Public Affairs & Government Engagement</span> <span class="mag-author-card__name">Queensland Whitsunday Regional Council</span></div><a href="/cases/" class="mag-sidebar__download mag-sidebar__download--outline" style="display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; gap: 8px; padding: 12px; border: 1px solid var(--navy); border-radius: 6px; color: var(--navy); text-decoration: none; font-size: 0.9rem; font-weight: 600; text-align: center; transition: all 0.3s ease;">← Back to Case Studies</a></aside></div></article><section aria-labelledby="case-related-heading" class="case-related" style="max-width: var(--max-width); margin: 0 auto; padding: 0 clamp(18px, 4vw, 56px) 100px;"><h2 id="case-related-heading" style="font-family: var(--font-serif); font-size: 1.6rem; margin-bottom: 28px;">Related work</h2><div class="case-related__grid" style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(260px, 1fr)); gap: 20px;"><a href="/services/government-relations/" class="case-related__card" style="display: block; padding: 22px; border: 1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.28); border-radius: 8px; text-decoration: none; color: inherit;"><span style="display: block; font-size: 0.75rem; letter-spacing: 0.1em; text-transform: uppercase; opacity: 0.6; margin-bottom: 10px;">The service</span> <span style="display: block; font-weight: 600;">Public Affairs & Government Engagement</span> </a><a href="/cases/adelaide-city-football-club/" class="case-related__card" style="display: block; padding: 22px; border: 1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.28); border-radius: 8px; text-decoration: none; color: inherit;"><span style="display: block; font-size: 0.75rem; letter-spacing: 0.1em; text-transform: uppercase; opacity: 0.6; margin-bottom: 10px;">Public Affairs & Government Engagement</span> <span style="display: block; font-weight: 600;">Adelaide City Football Club</span> </a><a href="/cases/aspen-medical/" class="case-related__card" style="display: block; padding: 22px; border: 1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.28); border-radius: 8px; text-decoration: none; color: inherit;"><span style="display: block; font-size: 0.75rem; letter-spacing: 0.1em; text-transform: uppercase; opacity: 0.6; margin-bottom: 10px;">Public Affairs & Government Engagement</span> <span style="display: block; font-weight: 600;">Aspen Medical</span> </a><a href="/cases/north-adelaide-golf-club/" class="case-related__card" style="display: block; padding: 22px; border: 1px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.28); border-radius: 8px; text-decoration: none; color: inherit;"><span style="display: block; font-size: 0.75rem; letter-spacing: 0.1em; text-transform: uppercase; opacity: 0.6; margin-bottom: 10px;">Public Affairs & Government Engagement</span> <span style="display: block; font-weight: 600;">North Adelaide Golf Club</span></a></div></section><style>@media (max-width: 992px) {
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