Federal election 2022: Scott Morrison to announce $108.5m defence industry plan

An extra 1500 Australians will be trained for defence manufacturing jobs if the Coalition is re-elected.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: Jason Edwards

Scott Morrison will unveil a plan to boost the defence industry workforce on Friday, saying an extra 1500 Australians will be trained for defence manufacturing jobs under a $108.5 million commitment if he is re-elected.

The Prime Minister will announce an expansion of the Defence Industry Pathways Program which is a $10m scheme providing WA high school graduates with a 12-month traineeship in the defence industry.

He said the government would extend the program to 14 regions across the country to train an extra 1500 workers with a nationally accredited Certificate III – Defence Industry Pathways.

Students would be trained up with practical experience in technical trades as well as skills in engineering, project management and logistics, cyber security, and computer-aided design.

Some of the regions where the scheme will be rolled out include Newcastle and the Hunter, Sydney and its surrounds, Cairns, Townsville, Brisbane and its surrounds, Darwin, Perth, Adelaide, Bendigo, Benalla and Mulwala, Melbourne and its surrounds, Geelong, East Sale as well as Hobart and Launceston.

“Our investment in building the capabilities of Australia’s defence force is about keeping our country strong and secure and backing local skills and jobs,” Mr Morrison said. “Australia has a record 220,000 people in trades training but as our defence investments grow, so does the demand for skilled Australians to move into the industry.”

“The skills and knowledge this program will give to graduates will set them up for a career in defence equipment manufacturing technology, and set them up for life.”

Mr Morrison said the government’s $270bn investment in Australia’s defence capabilities out to 2030 rested on the ability to grow the local industry workforce.

The Defence Industry Pathways Program pilot was unveiled in mid 2021 and was developed in partnership with WA’s South Metropolitan TAFE and the state’s maritime defence industry.

It was pitched as a “taster” course to set young Australians on the pathway to a career in the defence industry. Under the scheme, the government said it would contribute almost $45,000 per trainee to fund their wages, on-costs and uniform, including safety footwear.

Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price said competition for skilled workers in defence industries was on the rise. “We need to meet the growing needs of our defence industry workforce by skilling up new workers and new generations,” she said. “This is taking a pilot at Henderson in WA and exporting it right across the country so more people get the skills they need for the jobs our government is helping to create.”