Matters of Interest

Defence Industry

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:20): I rise today to speak about the recent AUKUS trilateral announcement and the securing of defence projects for South Australia. What a tremendous outcome for our state. South Australia's defence sector will play a key role in the new trilateral alliance between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. It is great news for our state. The federal government intends to build a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines right here in Adelaide.

For some time now, we have been developing a skilled workforce that is delivering some of the nation's biggest defence projects. Following this announcement, the Marshall Liberal government will continue to work—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hood is battling against a number of conversations.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: Following this announcement, the Marshall Liberal government will continue to work closely with the federal government to get the very best outcome for South Australia and employment levels in our state. We are a proud defence state with broad capabilities, and we will seize the opportunities that come from this landmark agreement.

South Australia has been cemented as the shipbuilding capital of our nation. Not only have we secured the build of the new nuclear-powered submarines, we have also secured the full cycle docking and life-of-type extension of the Collins class submarines at Osborne, as well as the upgrades for the Hobart class destroyers. Collins class full cycle docking will remain at Osborne, and the Collins life-of-type extension will now continue beyond 2026, as all six boats undergo capability extensions right here in South Australia. The Navy's three Hobart class destroyers will also undergo their combat management system upgrades at Osborne from 2024.

These programs will support literally thousands of jobs and ensure we retain our highly capable, skilled shipbuilding workforce right here in South Australia. South Australia is the defence state, and that means jobs for today, tomorrow and for decades to come. The Marshall Liberal government has secured this pipeline of defence projects that will deliver thousands of jobs for South Australians, a great source of pride for all South Australians, I am sure. Our highly skilled defence workforce will only grow as the new submarines are built and important maintenance work is carried out on the Collins class submarines and Hobart class air warfare destroyers. It is a huge win for local jobs and a great win for our state.

These major defence projects form part of the government's strong economic recovery plan as we chart our way out of the pandemic. We have more people in full-time employment in South Australia than ever before, and we are only going to see this grow as we secure major infrastructure and defence projects for the decades to come. As South Australia spearheads this major expansion of Australia's defence capabilities and advances the state's shipbuilding expertise, it will see some 5,000 shipbuilding jobs in South Australia by 2030, just nine years away.

The new nuclear-powered submarines will be built in South Australia, as I said, as part of the new trilateral alliance between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. As a result, as I mentioned earlier, South Australia has been cemented as the shipbuilding capital of our nation. The Collins class submarines were built right here in South Australia in Adelaide, and the destroyer class were built here as well. The first two offshore patrol vessels are currently being built here, the frigates will be built here, and Australia's new submarines will also be built be right here in Australia's defence capital, the city of Adelaide.

We are now working with the Morrison federal government and industry regarding the transitional workforce plans. These new submarines will be significantly bigger and more advanced and this decision recognises the quality of naval shipbuilding in South Australia and our strong relationship with the federal government. South Australia is the defence state and that means we are the jobs state in the defence sector.

From the most livable to the shipbuilding capital of the nation, SA is the best place to live, work and raise a family. It is a proud moment for our state and shows that the future of South Australia is indeed very bright.