NIOA ‘inside the wire’ at US military stronghold

Brisbane munitions group NIOA has hung out its shingle in the heart of the US military establishment as part of its growing importance as a supplier of weapons to our allies.

Brisbane munitions group NIOA has hung out its shingle in the heart of the US military establishment. The company, which earlier this year acquired US military weapons supplier Barrett Firearms, has taken up a tenancy at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey as it looks to strengthen supply of critical munitions.

NIOA Group chief executive Robert Nioa says the company’s expansion to Picatinny, the home of the United States Army’s Joint Centre of Excellence for ammunition and weapons, demonstrated its commitment to play a key role in armaments supply to the US military and its allies. The Picatinny Arsenal has a workforce of more than 6000 military, government and civilian personnel. It includes key organisations such as Joint Program Executive Office Armaments and Ammunition, Project Manager Soldier Lethality and the Combat Capability Development Command Armaments Center.

The move “inside the wire” at Picatinny signals NIOA’s intent to expand its reach in the US beyond the recent acquisition of Tennessee-based Barrett Firearms.

NIOA weapons design specialists Richard Basladynski, right, and Jason Jonker.

Barrett is a key supplier to the US Army and Special Operations Command, with active contracts for its MK 22 Multi-Role Adaptive Design precision sniper rifle, and the M107A1 .50cal semi-auto anti-material rifle. Nioa says the trilateral AUKUS security agreement had underscored the growing importance of trans-Pacific partnerships between Australian defence companies and the US. “Picatinny Arsenal is a vital US hub for defence innovation and collaboration,” Nioa says. As well as its ownership of Barrett, NIOA has longstanding relationships with American companies such as General Dynamics, Northrup Grumman and Winchester, each of which also have tenancies at Picatinny. Nioa meanwhile will address the National Press Club in Canberra today (Dec 1) on the topic of developing Australia’s defence industrial base, arguing it is a time for urgency and action.

Missing in action?

The talk around the State Government’s DestinationQ tourism conference in Cairns last week wasn’t so much about who was there, but who wasn’t.

Tourism sector executive Joel Edmondson is leading the Palaszczuk Government’s $20m Queensland Music Trails initiative in his role as Queensland Music Festival CEO and Creative Director. But City Beat understands Edmondson hasn’t been seen for four months and the industry isn’t sure what’s happening.

Prior to his time at QMF, Edmondson led contemporary music body QMusic through some of its most successful years. He has been a regular public face beside the Premier and Arts Minister Leeanne Enoch at major events around Queensland over the past decade but was not present in Cairns last week. Edmondson was not available for comment.

A spokesperson from Enoch’s office declined to comment and instead referred questions to the Queensland Music Festival. QMF says Edmondson is on “extended personal leave.

QMF CEO and Creative Director Joel Edmondson

Top tipple

Albion-based Granddad Jack’s Craft Distillery has picked up a gong for its growing range of popular tipples. Granddad Jack won the best family-owned spirit and liqueur distillery in the LUXlife distillery and brewing awards. Granddad Jack’s founder and chief executive David Ridden says the firm’s journey is driven by family values and passion.

Granddad Jack operates two distilleries in Queensland with exports to New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Fiji, Japan, China, and North America.