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Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy have formally unveiled the government’s $159 billion continuous naval shipbuilding plan.
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The Albanese government has reaffirmed its commitment to a sustained and sovereign naval shipbuilding and sustainment industry, powered by an Australian workforce and supported by local supply chains, with the release of the 2024 Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Plan.
The 2024 plan outlines the government’s historic investment of up to $159 billion over the next decade as part of the Integrated Investment Program. This significant funding will enhance Australia’s maritime capabilities and includes the addition of 55 newly announced vessels, a substantial increase compared to the previous Coalition government’s plan.
The plan establishes a 30-year pipeline for construction and sustainment projects, primarily in South Australia and Western Australia. This includes conventionally armed and nuclear-powered submarines, a more capable surface combatant fleet, and landing craft for the Australian Army.
The Deputy Prime Minister stressed the importance of the plan, saying: “The long-term investment laid out in the 2024 Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Plan represents the Albanese government’s vision for continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment, a future made in Australia and our commitment to keeping Australians safe.”
These initiatives will create a long-term pipeline of naval projects, supporting approximately 8,500 jobs in shipbuilding and sustainment by 2030, with an additional 20,000 jobs over the next 30 years tied to Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program.
“Through the most significant investment in maritime capability in Australia’s history, we will see generations of naval construction projects happen right here, with plans to construct and upgrade over 70 vessels across South Australia and Western Australia,” the Deputy Prime Minister added.
The Albanese government is already taking action to expand the workforce, including:
- $1.5 billion for 500,000 Free TAFE and vocational education training places.
- $250 million to attract, train, and retain the nuclear-powered submarine workforce, including 4,000 Commonwealth-supported STEM university placements across Australia.
- The implementation of the South Australia Defence Industry Workforce and Skills Report and action plans, in partnership with the South Australian government.
The growth of this workforce will be overseen by the newly established Maritime Workforce and Skills Council, which will collaborate with federal, state, and territory governments, industry, trade unions, and academic institutions.
Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy expanded on the Deputy Prime Minister’s comments, saying: “Under this plan, the Albanese government is building world-class shipyards and creating tens of thousands of well-paid jobs for decades to come, providing financial security for Australians and a future made in Australia.”
Additionally, the government is advancing the design and planning of multibillion-dollar infrastructure upgrades for Australia’s maritime industrial base. This includes developments such as the new Defence Precinct in Henderson, Western Australia, and the Submarine Construction Yard in Osborne, South Australia.
Building and maintaining vessels for the Defence Force is crucial to safeguarding national security, strengthening sovereignty, and enhancing Australia’s industrial capabilities.
“The government’s record investment in the maritime domain will deliver a much bigger and more lethal navy and an army that’s appropriate to our strategic environment. This will make Australia safer,” Minister Conroy said.
To ensure the shipbuilding strategy remains aligned with evolving strategic needs, the government will update the plan every two years, with the next version set for release in 2026.
A copy of the 2024 Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Plan is available here.
