Minister Barr: Plan to turn unprecedented defence investment into CBR jobs
- Written by ACT Government
Released 09/06/2017
Canberra will build on its existing strengths in the defence industry to turn the Commonwealth’s planned record investment in the sector into new jobs for Canberrans under a strategy released today.
The Established, Capable, Skilled strategy outlines how we will build up Canberra’s already significant and globally competitive defence industry to support the Department of Defence and secure flow-on economic benefits for the Canberra community.
We already have a number of companies working with Defence and our schools and universities turning out graduates and research the industry needs. This strategy is about building on these foundations to find more opportunities for more Canberra companies and giving more graduates the skills the industry needs to grow.
The ACT is uniquely positioned. Our established businesses, workforce, university research partnerships and proximity to decision-makers and government agencies are unmatched anywhere in Australia. Canberra businesses including Aspen Medical and CEA Technologies are already working with defence, this strategy will help other companies learn from their success.
Under the strategy we will work with industry and our education sectors to identify and fill skills gaps. We will promote Canberra as a place to do business with the defence industry. We’ll help Canberra businesses and research organisations form links with existing Defence contractors and the department itself. We’ll attract
Department of Defence and defence industry are already great contributors to the regional economy, contributing $4.3 billion per year, and providing over 25,000 jobs.
Last year we appointed former Senator Kate Lundy as the ACT Defence Industry Advocate with a clear remit to maximise the benefit to Canberra of increased defence expenditure. In March, I announced the membership of the ACT Defence Industry Advisory Board (DIAB). This strategy is a product of the ACT DIAB’s advice on how Canberra’s economy can benefit from the Defence White Paper.
With the release of this strategy, the ACT Government has committed to 23 distinct actions which focus on five key priority areas:
- Supporting the Canberra region to maximise opportunities from defence procurement;
- Collaborating with other states and territories;
- Attracting investment to grow the defence industry in the Canberra region;
- Continuing to build a skilled, innovative and connected workforce; and
- Fostering new ideas and growing research and industry partnerships.
For more information on the ACT’s Defence Industry Strategy, go to www.act.gov.au/defence/.
- Statement ends -
Section: Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases
