Saab Advanced Maritime Systems Centre

The Hon. T.R. KENYON (Newland) (14:21): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier inform the house about the opening of Saab's Advanced Maritime Systems Centre in Adelaide's north and what it says about the future of our local defence industry?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:22): I thank the honourable member for his question. It was my great pleasure to attend at the opening of the new Advanced Maritime Systems Centre down at Mawson Lakes together with the Hon. David Johnston, local Leader of the Opposition and member for Dunstan, and a number of federal MPs. This purpose-built centre is really a demonstration of the strength with which the South Australian defence state ambition has been realised.

It will bring Saab's naval combat systems resources, skills and expertise into a single location. It has brought people from interstate and overseas to be part of that. It will also ensure the continued growth of local skills and expertise in the Royal Australian Navy's combat systems. They have ambitions to grow 100 new jobs in this particular area over the next few years which is a very exciting development here in South Australia, because these are the sorts of high-end jobs that have a massive future for our advanced manufacturing capability and our systems development capability.

They are selling these products overseas, so it has a long-term capacity to grow, and I was thrilled to be at this event. Senator Johnston and I had the opportunity to see the new centre used for a training simulation and it was quite exciting to see the way in which these naval combat systems, in a simulated process, were able to see off a threat off the coast of South Australia and through a very—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: That's right—it's not identified what the threat was, but the particular attack was to send off a missile to intercept an incoming missile. These automated systems, which I think have to respond within seven seconds, are an extraordinary indication of the power of that particular technology. In addition to serving the Royal Australian Navy, the Advanced Maritime Service Centre will provide Saab with the opportunity to grow its capability and serve developing markets in areas such as Canada and India.

Based in Mawson Lakes, the Advanced Maritime Systems Centre is located next to other key defence research and development hubs and helps to further strengthen the area's maritime credentials. This is particularly helpful as the South Australian government works to secure the future of our nation's indigenous defence capability.

They also have ambitions to be deeply involved in relation to the Future Submarines project. They have acquired Kockums in Sweden, which of course was the precursor to the arrangements which led to our Future Submarines. It was very gratifying to see the way the Minister for Defence was fully supportive of this investment. It augurs very well for the future and this is a great new initiative for South Australia.