ASC to axe 175 jobs by October as its Air Warfare Destroyer project winds down

SHIPBUILDER ASC will axe 175 jobs by October, but Premier Jay Weatherill says there is light at the end of the tunnel.

SHIPBUILDER ASC will axe 175 jobs from its Air Warfare Destroyer project by October.

The Adelaide-based company today released a statement saying the job losses were part of planned and progressive reductions as the project winds down.

About 75 jobs were permanent positions, while the remaining jobs were on contractor.

The job losses were across a range of fields, including electrical, mechanical and structural.

ASC says it will investigate redeployment opportunities and voluntary and that non-voluntary redundancy packages will be offered.

“ASC will brief employees on the impact of the changes and support would be provided through the company’s employee assistance program and career transition centre,” the company said in a statement.

“This activity will have no impact to ASC’s submarine workforce or planning for the future submarine project.”

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Premier Jay Weatherill said that “sadly we knew that we were heading towards this gap between the beginning of the patrol boats and the frigates and the future submarines project”.

“This was known, (but) it doesn’t make it any easier for the workers and their families. It just means that we really have to get on with the business of the new jobs that we know are going to flow at ASC.

“There are some exciting opportunities with patrol boats, future frigates and future submarines. “Those jobs will begin well before the actual construction begins, so we need to get on with those to soak up these workers.”