It represents the eyes and ears of northern Australia. An over-the-horizon radar network that monitors air and sea movements across our remote coast line. Called JORN (Jindalee Operational Radar Network) it’s maintained and serviced by a small but dedicated team of AMWU members, 40 kilometers outside of Alice Springs.

AMWU delegate Rick Kinsel has been working on JORN for the last nine years, an opportunity that came up by accident.

“I was in the navy for 23 years with a background in radar. I then operated a small business in Brisbane and one day I got an email from a friend who was working out here. He said a job had come up and I should look into it.

“I’m a radio fitter mechanic by trade. It’s not just electronics, you’re a person who pulls things apart and works out how things work. This radar was and still is a developmental radar, it can break and we’re the ones who’ve got to try and fix it.”

In an age of super powered radars capable of picking up small movements thousands of kilometers away, Australia’s JORN is still regarded as one of the best.

“Many countries have radars, what makes us stand out is we were the first to do it. Once we did it other countries jumped on the bandwagon.”

So powerful are the radars that defence enthusiasts believe JORN could comfortably track aircraft taking off and landing in East Timor - although many speculate the range goes further to North Korea and China. 

Not only does the network (which includes radars in Longreach Queensland and Laverton WA) provide 24-hour military surveillance of Australia's northern approaches, but it also serves civilian purposes such as weather forecasting and the prevention of illegal entry, smuggling and unlicensed fishing.

Rick says technicians working on JORN are constantly challenged by the variety and complexity of tasks. 

“The changes are phenomenal, it’s just amazing the enhancement in technology.
You get to work on a huge variety of electronic equipment. All the way from extremely dated equipment to cutting edge technology, every nut and bolt.”

In May, the technicians secured their latest union collective agreement with management BAE Systems - including a wage rise and improved site allowances. 

“The negotiations ended and we did well, we’re all pretty happy about that.”

The company had attempted to change the starting time for employees – without compensation. However Rick and his fellow AMWU members successfully defended their existing conditions.

“We’ve always had quite a good working relationship with management, we’re pleased everything is back to where we were.”