Susan Close MP
Acting Premier
Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
Minister for Workforce and Population Strategy
The Malinauskas Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Australia’s sovereign submarine builder, ASC, at its Port Adelaide Training Centre.
This cooperative working arrangement will support South Australia’s leading role in delivering complex naval shipbuilding and defence projects, and help to further develop the state’s defence industry workforce and skills.
ASC plays a crucial role in delivering Australia’s submarine capability, providing design enhancements, maintenance, and through-life support for the Collins Class submarines at Osborne Naval Shipyard.
ASC will undertake the life-of-type extension for the Collins Class fleet and will be the joint shipbuilder for SSN AUKUS submarines, as well as the sole sustainer for SSN AUKUS and Virginia Class submarines.
Attracting, retaining, and developing skilled workers is a high priority for both ASC and the South Australian Government.
South Australia is spearheading the largest and most complex naval shipbuilding and defence projects in the nation’s history and a skilled workforce is essential to maintaining the state’s leadership in defence project delivery to meet growing security challenges.
This MoU will further enhance existing relationships with local companies, academia, and education providers to develop a skilled workforce and strengthen Australia’s sovereign submarine capability.
The MoU complements a range of Commonwealth and South Australian Government funded initiatives being delivered under the South Australian Defence Industry Workforce and Skills (SADIWS) Report and Action Plan, engaging school students and teachers, creating new education and employment pathways, and upskilling current workers. For more information, visit statedevelopment.sa.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Susan Close
This partnership will allow the Malinauskas Government to continue to get on with the work required to build the necessary workforce and skills we need.
We have already partnered with the Australian Government and key stakeholders to develop and implement a skills and workforce plan for South Australia that will support the delivery of current and future defence projects.
This MoU will be mutually beneficial to the Government of South Australia and ASC as we undertake further cooperation with industry, research institutes and education providers to develop South Australia’s defence industry workforce and skills.
Quotes attributable to Stuart Whiley, ASC CEO and Chief Nuclear and Capability Officer
These are very exciting times for South Australia and ASC and we are looking forward to partnering with the South Australian Government.
Building and maintaining submarines in South Australia is going to be a huge part of the economy for many decades to come.
We already have an immediate need for tradespeople to help us maintain our existing Collins Class submarines. In the not-too-distant future, the kids who are at high school today will be the ones building the AUKUS submarine fleet of tomorrow.
