Premier Peter Malinauskas inks AUKUS submarine workforce deal with Maryland Governor Wes Moore

Premier Peter Malinauskas has met with the US governor branded “the next Barack Obama” in his latest stop on his American trip.

Premier Peter Malinauskas has met with the United States governor touted as “the next Barack Obama” to forge a deal for developing the skilled workforce for Adelaide-based AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine construction.

In a meeting in Annapolis, Mr Malinauskas and Maryland Governor Wes Moore inked a memorandum of understanding centred on defence, space, cyber and autonomous technologies.

Of the world’s top 20 defence and aerospace companies, 15 have a presence in Maryland, the northern neighbour to Washington, D.C.

Maryland also is home to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre, the US’s premier space flight complex and has the nation’s largest organisation of that industry’s scientists, engineers, and technologists.

Premier Peter Malinauskas at a press conference with Maryland Governor Wes Moore. Picture: Supplied

Governor Moore, a decorated Army combat veteran, best-selling author and former Wall St banker, has been widely tipped as the second African-American President and hailed by Time Magazine as the Democrats’ most talented newcomer since Barack Obama.

“South Australia’s dedication to innovation and technology, particularly the space and defence industries, make it a natural partner for Maryland,” Governor Moore said.

“Maryland and South Australia stand united in our shared commitment to innovation, growth, and discovery. We are natural collaborators and dedicated friends.

“We believe this expanded partnership with South Australia will keep both regions working towards the greater good, while boosting business in Maryland and abroad.”

Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Premier Peter Malinauskas. Picture: Supplied

The economic agreement predates the AUKUS security pact and was first signed in 2019, under the former Liberal government, and focused on cybersecurity, small satellites and space.

The latest deal, signed on Thursday (Friday morning SA time), has been expanded to include workforce development, testing ranges and unmanned autonomous vehicles.

It includes exchanging knowledge and expertise at a government and commercial level regarding defence workforce development and skills capability.

Mr Malinauskas said SA and Maryland were both national leaders in defence, space and cyber and collaborating was in their mutual interest.

“My core focus of this trip to the United States is to strengthen our state’s preparations for the AUKUS submarine project, with a particular focus on developing the skilled workforce required,” he said.

“This partnership with Maryland will ensure our government and our local businesses have greater access to the expertise in this state.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas and Maryland Governor Wes Moore after signing an AUKUS submarine workforce pact. Picture: Supplied

Nuclear-powered submarines will be built at Adelaide’s Osborne Naval Shipyard under a historic $368bn project, involving at least eight homemade submarines hitting the water from the 2040s.

Maryland officials in 2023 met with Defence SA, the state’s lead agency for defence industry, and joined a US delegation meeting Australian firms to explore collaboration in the nuclear-powered submarine project.

The universities of Adelaide and Maryland have a longstanding partnership focused on defence, intelligence and security.

In the first leg of his 10-day US trip, Mr Malinauskas on Thursday morning (SA time) signed a letter of co-operation with California, billed as a “historic” collaboration to advance the states’ “shared leadership in renewable energy and clean hydrogen technology”.

Originally published as Premier Peter Malinauskas inks AUKUS submarine workforce deal with Maryland Governor Wes Moore