A new agreement between the Australian Government and ASC aims to create more than 700 direct jobs in South Australia and 400 direct jobs in Western Australia.

Totalling more than $2.2 billion, the four-year Collins class submarine sustainment contract forms part of the larger $4 to $5 billion Government commitment to keeping the Collins class submarines as a potent strike and deterrence capability. The agreement secures the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia and Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia as centres of excellence for the sustainment of Collins class submarines.

It also follows the announcement of an additional 500 South Australian jobs through the Collins class life-of-type extension (LOTE) program which is set to commence at Osborne in 2026.

The investment signals burgeoning confidence in South Australia’s naval shipbuilding capability and underpins the state’s ability to continuously deliver on some of the largest and most complex Defence projects.

With 90 per cent of the Collins class platform sustainment budget being spent in Australia, local companies will have substantial opportunities to bid for contracts across various work packages.

Naval shipbuilding projects are set to create up to 5000 jobs in South Australia by 2030, with thousands of additional jobs in adjacent and support industries. This sustainment program will contribute towards growing the pipeline of highly skilled workers required to build and sustain the SSN-AUKUS submarines at Osborne from the end of this decade and beyond.

Read the full media release.