Christopher Pyne: SA is crucial to Government’s $90 billion National Shipbuilding Endeavour
Defence Minister Christopher Pyne says that South Australia is playing a crucial part in the Government’s $90 billion National Shipbuilding Endeavour, delivering marine capability, a massive boost to the economy and jobs across the nation.
Opinion
Don't miss out on the headlines from Opinion. Followed categories will be added to My News.
South Australia is playing a crucial part in the Government’s $90 billion National Shipbuilding Endeavour, delivering marine capability, a massive boost to the economy and jobs across the nation.
The face of Osborne Naval Shipyard is rapidly changing. It has gone from a large open space to a field of steel and cranes, and will become the home of world-leading construction centres for our Future Submarines and frigates.
Today, at Osborne, I will sign the head contract with ASC Shipbuilding, a wholly owned subsidiary of BAE Systems Australia, for the design and build of the $35 billion Hunter class frigates. On Thursday, I announced the conclusion of negotiations for the head contract for the Attack class submarines to be signed early next year.
This is the greatest regeneration of our maritime capability since World War II and the most ambitious capital investment ever undertaken in Australia. The Hunter class frigate program is a critical part of our Naval Shipbuilding Plan, which, as estimated by Oxford Economics for BAE Systems, will contribute $17 billion to the national economy and more than 6300 jobs across Australia at the program’s peak in 2028.
Steel has now being raised into place for the Hunter class frigate’s new construction yard at Osborne South. This yard will create hundreds of jobs and support industry across SA. A total of 8000 tonnes of structural steel has been sourced from SA company Samaras Structural Steel – just one of the hundreds of local suppliers involved in the development of this super-modern shipyard.
On Thursday, the first sod was turned for the Attack class submarine construction yard at Osborne North. This huge investment will see hundreds of jobs created to build, refurbish and modernise a purpose-built centre to construct Australia’s Future Submarine fleet.
The Future Submarines are a strategically vital defence capability for Australia. It is the largest defence acquisition program to be undertaken by our nation. It seeks to ensure the establishment of the Australian industrial capability necessary to support the build, operation and sustainment of the future submarine fleet.
Australian industry involvement is expected to generate an annual average of about 2800 jobs. But this is about more than building ships, submarines and yards.
It’s about establishing our national sovereign capability.
We are bringing together resources from around the country to deliver an agile, capable and potent future defence force while building a resilient and competitive in-dustry with the ability to seize global export opportunities.
It truly is our national endeavour.
■ Christopher Pyne is Defence Minister
Reader letters: World War II POWs — we remember them
August 15: Readers have their say on Victory in the Pacific Day and a Melbourne traveller saying you can “basically do whatever you like over here” when it comes to social distancing.
Silly COVID restrictions need to go now
Despite SA’s coronavirus “cluster” passing, we’re still not allowed to stand at the pub or have more than 10 people at home. These restrictions are needlessly hurting businesses and families, writes Caleb Bond.