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Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price has announced an independent review of the Australian government’s Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC) will aim to strengthen support for small and regional businesses to take up opportunities in Australia’s growing defence industry.
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Minister Price released the terms of reference for the review, which were part of a suite of measures she has initiated to help small businesses get better service from, and greater access to Defence.
"The CDIC is a key initiative of the 2016 Defence White Paper, which was formed to help grow a competitive, sustainable defence industry base. I have been listening carefully to feedback from defence companies across Australia and I am determined to help a great industry to grow stronger," Minister Price said.
The CDIC supports Australian businesses entering or working in the defence industry. The CDIC:
- helps businesses navigate the defence market;
- provides specialist advice on improving competitiveness and accessing global markets;
- facilitates connections between businesses and Defence;
- links Australian innovators and researchers to the Defence Innovation Hub and the Next Generation Technologies Fund; and
- undertakes sector-wide projects to support industry development.
The CDIC is headquartered in Adelaide, with advisers and facilitators across all the states and territories to form a national advisory network. They are supported by AusIndustry's outreach network, which extends the CDIC's reach to regional areas.
Minister Price added, "The CDIC is often referred to as the front door for service support for local defence companies. I want to throw those doors wide open and this review aims to help us to achieve that. We’ll be engaging defence companies on ways to boost this help."
Co-chairs of the CDIC Advisory Board – Kate Carnell, the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, and Tony Fraser, Deputy Secretary of Defence’s Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group – will lead the review.
The co-chairs will release a discussion paper seeking views from industry, which will be used to inform the review and its recommendations to government.
The CDIC service is delivered by the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources on behalf of Defence and it will be consulted as part of the review. The review and its recommendations will be delivered to the minister mid-year.
The CDIC's mission is to work with industry and Defence to build a world-class, globally competitive and sustainable Australian industry as a fundamental input to capability. It partners with industry, Defence, and state and territory governments to combine knowledge and networks towards this goal.
The terms of reference for the review are available here.
