- Published:
- Tuesday 26 April 2016
The Turnbull Government must ensure Victoria gets a fair share of the work to deliver Australia’s new submarine fleet.
Minister for Industry Lily D’Ambrosio today congratulated French company DCNS on being selected as the preferred designer for the $50 billion Future Submarines project and called on Malcolm Turnbull to ensure Victoria is heavily involved in a national approach to the design and build.
Ms D’Ambrosio has held talks with DCNS prior to the announcement about Victoria’s potential involvement in the Future Submarine Program, which would create hundreds of local jobs.
Victoria is well placed to work on the design, engineering and supply of the submarines and stands ready to work with DCNS and the Commonwealth.
Victoria is the largest defence manufacturing state in Australia with a strong history and experience in naval shipbuilding and support for the Collins Class submarines.
There are more than 300 high-tech defence manufacturing businesses across the state, which employ around 7,000 Victorians who make equipment and provide services for the defence industry.
Victoria is also home to one third of Australia’s engineering workforce and has world class research and development capabilities, supported by a world class tertiary education sector.
The Andrews Labor Government calls on Malcolm Turnbull to ensure that a national approach to the submarine project draws on the ship building skills of the states, including Victoria.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry Lily D’Ambrosio
“We have world class research and development capabilities and the largest defence manufacturing industry in Australia – Victoria should have significant involvement in designing, engineering and supplying our submarines.”
“We will continue to work with DCNS and the Commonwealth to ensure Victorian businesses are involved in all stages of the future submarine program.”