$245 million to strengthen local manufacturing for Australia's defence capability
Website search Joint media release with the Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for Pacific Affairs Pat Conroy, and Member for Fremantle Josh Wilson. The Albanese Government’s National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) is investing $245 million to build an advanced manufacturing facility at the Henderson Defence Precinct in Perth, Western Australia, creating hundreds of jobs.
This builds on the NRF’s $327 million worth of existing investments in defence or defence-related projects, bringing the total investment to over $570 million. Austal will use the funding to construct and fit out manufacturing facilities within the Australian Marine Complex with Defence-compliant, modular manufacturing capabilities that will deliver eight Landing Craft Heavy vessels for the Australian Defence Force by 2038.
Austal already employs around 1,200 people in Australia and the NRF investment is expected to create an additional 780 local roles in skilled trades, engineering and advanced manufacturing. The Australian Marine Complex at Henderson Defence Precinct is a strategic national asset and one of Australia’s two principal naval shipyards. This NRF investment will strengthen Australia’s naval shipbuilding capacity and support the domestic industrial capability that underpins the nation's maritime security.
It will also allow Australia to capitalise on the projected 25 per cent growth in the global naval shipbuilding market over the next 7 years. Through the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, the Albanese Labor Government is backing Australian businesses to scale up, modernise and expand, creating skilled jobs and strengthening Australia’s sovereign defence industrial base.
Building Australia’s industrial capability is critical to boosting Australia’s economic security and resilience. Quotes attributable to Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Pat Conroy: “National security and industrial resilience are inseparable. We will keep delivering on our agenda to grow the sovereign defence industry, because it is no longer quicker and cheaper to buy off the shelf from overseas.
This is what a Defence Future Made in Australia looks like. “This announcement will create hundreds of jobs and demonstrates that the Albanese Labor Government is working closely with our defence industry as trusted partners to deliver significant Defence capabilities. “Since coming to office our record defence funding has seen Australia’s manufacturing output grow by 35 per cent, and Western Australia’s defence industry output grow by 41 per cent.
“The previous Coalition Government saw the demise of Australian manufacturing and closure of two shipyards. We’re breathing life back into Australia’s manufacturing industry, creating hundreds of skilled jobs, while strengthening our sovereign shipbuilding capability.” Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science Tim Ayres: “Australia is stronger and more secure when we have the industrial capability to make more of what we need here at home.
“This $245 million investment backs domestic advanced manufacturing, creating hundreds of jobs in Western Australia and strengthening shipbuilding capability that is critical to Australia’s national security. “This is exactly why the Albanese Labor Government established the National Reconstruction Fund – to grow Australian industry, strengthen our national resilience and invest in our economic security.” Quotes attributable to Member for Fremantle Josh Wilson: “This investment will establish a further building block of shipbuilding capability and workforce development at Henderson.
"This is exactly what a Future Made in Australia looks like: more manufacturing here, more skilled jobs here, and more sovereign Australian capability. “I've long argued that shipbuilding is an apex form of Australian manufacturing because the sophisticated outcomes it produces sustain a broad ecosystem of small and medium enterprises. "For an island continent like Australia, sovereign maritime capability matters, and this investment will seriously advance that dimension of WA’s industrial base.
"This facility will build crucial seagoing craft, attract future projects with export opportunities, and have a positive ripple effect for small businesses in Cockburn, Fremantle and throughout the local supply chain.” The Department of Industry, Science and Resources recognises the First Peoples of this Nation and their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to the lands, waters, seas, skies, and communities.
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