Australian industry to benefit from $900 million Attack Class work packages

Australian industry will benefit from hundreds of millions of dollars in work packages for the Morrison Government's Future Submarine Program, supporting hundreds of Australian jobs and creating new opportunities for Australian businesses.

The Morrison Government and Naval Group today launched a new campaign seeking Expressions of Interest from Australian industry to become Australian Capability Partners for the manufacture of 23 major items of equipment.

This work has been assessed by Naval Group as being worth up to $900 million across the 12 boat fleet.

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC said the Morrison Government's Future Submarine Program will deliver Australia a regionally-superior, sovereign submarine capability.

“This commitment by Naval Group demonstrates the significant benefits to Australian industry that will flow from the Attack Class Submarine Program,” Minister Reynolds said.

“As we approach the preliminary design in January 2021, this is a critical phase of the program where we are in the process of designing and selecting more than a million submarine parts that need to work perfectly together.

“The skills and knowledge to manufacture this equipment and others will progressively be transferred to Australian industry as work packages are released to industry as part of the Government's sovereignty objectives.

“The Government continues to work with Naval Group to maximise opportunities for Australians, and in particular, train Australian workers in France, to generate the competency and skill to be able to then train the Australian-based workforce as early as possible.”

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said manufacturing such essential pieces of equipment in Australia supported Australian jobs and built confidence in the Australian defence industry.

“I have said from the outset that our Government will have the backs of Aussie workers,” Minister Price said.

“The decision to manufacture these essential pieces of equipment in Australia demonstrates our commitment to create new opportunities and jobs for Australian businesses.

“This is a significant step in the right direction to build up Australian capability in the Morrison Government's Future Submarine Program.”

Minister Reynolds and Senator for South Australia and Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham, today also opened Naval Group Australia's new office at Port Adelaide.

Its opening marks a significant milestone in the expansion of Naval Group Australia's workforce, as design work on the Attack Class submarines continues to progress.

The new Naval Group Australia office at Port Adelaide will host its 250‑strong workforce, with the capacity to accommodate up to 350 employees.

“The new dedicated office, close to where the Attack Class fleet will be built at the Osborne North Submarine Construction Yard, demonstrates Naval Group's commitment to deliver the regionally-superior Attack class submarines,” Minister Reynolds said.

“South Australia is at the forefront of the Morrison Government's plan to ensure Australia has the maritime capabilities to defend Australia and its interests over the coming decades, supported by a world-class, sustainable naval shipbuilding industry.”

Minister Birmingham said Naval Group Australia's commitment was a testament to South Australia's capability as a powerhouse for naval sub and shipbuilding.

“This commitment reinforces South Australia as the home of our nation's rapidly growing defence industry which is delivering thousands of cutting-edge jobs locally,” Minister Birmingham said.

“Naval Group Australia's announcement builds on the Morrison Government's plan of maximising the development of our defence industry through key partnerships, encouraging business capability for advanced technology development and job creation.”