Government

Premier in Canberra to fight for continuous surface ship building program in SA

Premier Peter Malinauskas, alongside BAE Systems workers and union representatives, is heading to Canberra today.

In a significant move to secure South Australian jobs, Premier Peter Malinauskas, alongside BAE Systems workers and union representatives, is heading to Canberra today.

Their mission? To ensure that Adelaide remains the central hub for building frigates as part of Australia’s ongoing naval shipbuilding program. This critical advocacy trip includes meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, as well as the Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy.

The timing is crucial. The Federal Government is on the cusp of finalizing the results of a pivotal review concerning the Navy’s surface ship fleet.

This review aims to align the fleet’s size, structure, and composition with the ambitious AUKUS agreement, under which conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines will be constructed in Adelaide.

Currently, hundreds of workers at Adelaide’s Osborne Naval Shipyard are engaged in the construction of the first Hunter-class Frigates.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said that the surface ship review must be released, and it must ensure Adelaide has a consistent, continuous supply of ships to be constructed in Adelaide

“We make this case because we know this is the only way this works.”

“The national interest demands that we do not have another valley of death.”

“There are already hundreds of workers at Osborne building frigates, and as a government, we are doing everything in our power to build the workforce that we know we will need to build surface ships and submarines.”

“These young South Australians deserve to step forward into their future careers with confidence.”

Glenn Thompson, the National Convenor of the Australian Shipbuilding Federation of Unions (ASFU), stressed the importance of a continuous naval shipbuilding program.

“The ASFU has been campaigning for near a decade to ensure a continuous naval shipbuilding program.”

“I am pleased to be here today in Canberra with ASFU delegates, the Premier and BAE Systems, to ensure the government’s commitment that a continuous shipbuilding program be delivered.”

“Many South Australians and ASFU members at Osborne, have seen firsthand the devastation that the valley of death caused following the completion of the Air Warfare program and the loss of engineering capability in the state, when Prime Minister Abbott dared that the automotive industry leaves Australia.”

“The Government has a once in a lifetime opportunity to build a sovereign engineering base.”

“The Defence Strategic Review (DSR) needs to ensure that we have a continuous shipbuilding program in South Australia and that we build and maintain our design and engineering capabilities for future navy requirements.”

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