PACIFIC 2013 INTERNATIONAL MARITIME EXPOSITION

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide) (15:09): My question is to the Minister for Defence Industries. Can the minister tell the house about South Australia's presence at the Pacific 2013 International Maritime Exposition?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (15:09): I thank the member for Port Adelaide for her question. Techport SA is in her electorate of Port Adelaide and will be the centre for maritime industry, maritime military sustainment and building for generations to come—a very special investment that this government has made and can be proud of.

Last week, I attended the Pacific 2013 International Maritime Exposition in Sydney to reinforce South Australia's dedication to naval shipbuilding systems and sustainment. Held in Sydney every two years, Pacific is the major international maritime exposition in the Asia-Pacific region, featuring a large trade exhibition supported by specialist defence and technology conferences.

South Australia was well represented with a strong delegation of local industry, such as ASC, BAE Systems, Babcock, Raytheon, Saab and Siemens Australia, promoting their capabilities to national and international delegates. We were also represented by smaller companies like Hill Defence Products, Ultra Electronics, MG Engineering, and Nova Systems. South Australia is home to some of the nation's largest and most complex naval projects: the multibillion dollar through-life-support contract for the Collins class submarines, and the $8 billion air warfare destroyer project.

Defence is a critical industry for South Australia, forming the foundation of our advanced manufacturing future. This is why it is important that we continue to engage with senior leaders from national and international defence companies, as well as senior defence personnel, including the incoming defence minister, Senator David Johnston.

The state government, along with members of the Defence SA Advisory Board, chaired by General Peter Cosgrove, hosted the Defence SA state dinner. At this dinner, we showcased South Australia's dedication to maintaining our reputation as the defence state. We showed this through: Defence SA, the nation's only dedicated defence agency, and our formidable Defence SA Advisory Board; our continuing investment in Techport Australia, the nation's premier naval shipbuilding hub; our long-term support for the Defence Teaming Centre; and our long-term focus on delivering highly skilled workers that are so crucial to the industry's success.

The defence minister (Senator Johnston) acknowledged in his speech that South Australia is undoubtedly the defence state of Australia, and other states would have a lot of catching up to do. The government cannot rest on our success so far. We will continue to maintain our position as the No. 1 state for the defence industry.

Over the next 20 years, Australia's future naval fleet investment is of around $250 billion. This will require all levels of government, industry and academia to work together. That is why the state government has written to Senator Johnston, and I have spoken to him privately, to recommit the commonwealth to an Australian build solution for the future submarines to be assembled at Techport Australia.

It is important to reinforce the critical need for a clearly defined path forward and timely decision-making so that industry and state governments can invest and prepare. South Australia is uniquely positioned to play a pivotal role in delivering Australia's future naval fleet, given our world-class infrastructure at Techport Australia, our strong industry base and the critical mass of high-end shipbuilding and sustainment skills in our state.