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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-05-14 Daily Xml
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Defence Industry Workforce Strategy

The Hon. T.T. NGO (15:20): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Science and Information Economy a question about STEM in the defence industry.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.T. NGO: By 2020, South Australia aims to expand the defence industry so that it can provide 37,000 direct and indirect jobs and inject about $2.5 million into our economy per year. My question is: can the minister tell the chamber about the 'Defence Industry South Australia—Workforce Strategy' and STEM Scholarship and Internship Program?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (15:21): I thank the honourable member for his important question. We know the South Australian economy is currently in a state of transition. This government is committed to ensuring that we are able to shift from traditional to high-value manufacturing which will enable us to compete on a global level.

Recently, I was very pleased to launch the 'Defence Industry South Australia—Workforce Strategy', which will guide the defence industry through to 2020. I was also able to simultaneously launch the Defence and STEM Scholarship and Internship Program. Both initiatives demonstrate the importance of the defence sector which creates long-term employment for our communities, attracts significant investment and helps drive innovation.

The recently launched 'South Australian Defence Strategy 2025' shows that we have a clear plan to grow and realise the potential of the defence industry in South Australia. This government, through the DSD, has partnered with the Defence Teaming Centre and industry to contribute $100,000 toward the 'Defence Industry South Australia—Workforce Strategy'.

The strategy aims to boost the capacity of defence companies by addressing workforce planning, skills gaps, enterprise needs and fostering transformation through change. This collaboration between industry and government will ensure the longevity of the South Australian defence industry.

Consistent with the objectives of the workforce strategy, I was also pleased to launch the Defence and STEM Scholarship and Internship Program. The scholarship will be comprised of two streams: the Defence Honours Scholarship and the Defence and STEM Internship Program. These provide university students with opportunities to enhance skills and thereby improve career and employability prospects.

The Defence Honours Scholarship Program will enable students to work collaboratively with industry as they undertake specific Honours projects nominated by defence companies, so real problems in real industry. This government is proud to provide nine scholarships, each worth $10,000, which have been awarded to projects involving students from the University of Adelaide, Flinders and UniSA, and a number of South Australian companies working in the defence sector. The internship program provides invaluable industry experience as students undertake structured work placements with local defence and STEM companies, thus providing students with important workplace skills which can't be taught in a classroom.

The government of South Australia is committed to the defence industry. I look forward to updating the chamber with the progress of the strategy and the Defence and STEM Scholarship and Internship Program. It is just a real shame that the recent federal Liberal government budget did not commit itself to building submarines here in this state—a real shame and missed opportunity.

The PRESIDENT: Before we go on to business, I refer to a call made during question time. The Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation had finished an answer, no-one sprang to their feet and I called upon the Hon. Mr Parnell, who had stood up and was about to ask his question. At that time, Hon. Ms Lensink, you jumped up for a supplementary question. I indicated that he had already been called and you questioned whether that was within standing orders. I was correct in what I did, and in future when somebody is called and on their feet no supplementary questions will be entered into.

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