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Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy has officially launched the Albanese government’s landmark Defence Industry Development Strategy which commits to increased funding and establishes pathways for maximising support for Australia’s defence industry.
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Defence Connect can officially confirm that the Albanese government has launched the Defence Industry Development Strategy (DIDS), building on the 2023 Defence Strategic Review to articulate the defence industrial base needed by Australia in the face of the changing strategic circumstances.
The government’s strategy details the actions the government will take to grow that industrial base, which employs more than 100,000 Australians, and deliver a greater partnership between Defence and industry, including critical defence procurement reforms and critically, increased funding for defence industry grants programs, taking the total investment to $183.8 million, in alignment with the DIDS.
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said, “This strategy will underpin essential reforms that will ensure that critical capabilities are provided to the men and women of the ADF as soon as possible, while also supporting an industry vital to our national security.”
A central component of DIDS is providing industry with clarity, simplicity, and acceleration to deliver capability to the Australian warfighter in a timely manner, while providing industry with the assurance and consistency needed to secure Australia’s defence and national security.
“Australia’s defence industry supports over 100,000 Australian jobs. It is an essential partner in keeping Australians safe at home, secure in the world and employed in well-paid, high skill jobs,” Minister Conroy said.
This will see the replacement of the 14 sovereign industrial capability priorities (SICPs) championed under the former government, with a consolidated list of seven sovereign defence industrial priorities (SDIPs), the new SDIPs are:
- Maintenance, repair, overhaul, and upgrade of Australian Defence Force aircraft.
- Continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment.
- Sustainment and enhancement of the combined arms land system.
- Domestic manufacture of guided weapons, explosive ordnance and munitions.
- Development and integration of autonomous systems.
- Integration and enhancement of battlespace awareness and management systems.
- Test and evaluation, certification, and systems assurance.
This new level of detail provides industry with information they need to prepare, invest and deliver on development, production and sustainment of Defence capabilities.
Minister Conroy added, “I look forward to working with industry to implement the Defence Industry Development Strategy, and deliver an innovative, resilient and competitive Australian defence industrial base that creates a stronger, more secure Australia.”
The government has stressed in its response to the Defence Strategic Review that Australia requires strong defence capabilities of our own and a fully integrated Australian Defence Force to contribute to the strategic balance of power that keeps the peace in our region.
More to come.
