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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-02-20 Daily Xml
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DEFENCE INDUSTRY

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (14:45): My question is to the Minister for Defence Industries. Can the minister tell the house about the recent overseas mission to promote South Australia's defence industry?

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) (14:45): I would like to thank the member for Reynell for this very important question. Members on both sides of the house will be aware that defence is a critical industry for this state, helping to form the foundation of our advanced manufacturing future. Indeed, defence is a major part of our state's economic development plan.

Regular and continuing international engagement is crucial to continuing to build strong relationships between South Australia and the main players in the global defence industry, particularly in Washington, where most of the relevant government and business executives are based. That's why I recently travelled to the United States with chief executive officers of Defence SA and the Defence Teaming Centre—Andrew Fletcher and Chris Burns—to promote South Australian capabilities as supply chain partners to American firms bidding on major Australian defence projects and to progress discussions with companies seeking to establish or expand their presence in Australia.

I had the opportunity to meet with the newly appointed global chief executive of Lockheed Martin, Ms Marillyn Hewson. Lockheed Martin has more than 200 staff here in Adelaide and is heavily involved in Australian defence projects, including the joint strike fighter project, the Jindalee over-the-horizon radar network and the air warfare destroyer combat system. Lockheed Martin has established a centre for innovation in simulation and training in Virginia, known as the 'Lighthouse', which could be a potential model for use here in Adelaide.

I also attended a dinner hosted by the Australian ambassador to showcase South Australia's defence credentials to US-based defence electronics and naval executives and met with representatives from General Dynamics Corporation, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. BAE Systems Australia is Australia's largest defence and security company. The company's headquarters are here in South Australia. Locally, it employs roughly 1,400 staff—nearly 30 per cent of its entire Australian workforce.

The visit was particularly timely, given the suite of commonwealth announcements about upcoming activities in South Australia, including the establishment of the Future Submarine Systems Centre, the establishment of a submarine land-based test site and the announcement that Adelaide will host the 2014 Defence and Industry Conference.

This state has a solid reputation for delivering world-class defence projects, and we have invested to provide long-term, state-of-the-art infrastructure and the supply of appropriately skilled workers. This government continues with unwavering determination to promote our state's defence credentials to secure advanced manufacturing jobs for all South Australians.

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