South Australia Seeks Shipbuilding Job Guarantees
Image - Commonwealth of Australia: Navy Imagery Unit
The South Australian Government has outlined three key points on shipbuilding it wants addressed by the Commonwealth's Defence White Paper next month.
It wants (1) a minimum 70 per cent Australian worker participation in the building, similar to the Collins Class submarines, (2) a guarantee the future naval submarines and frigates will be built in Australia and (3) that the local industry will have a continuous building program.
SA defence minister Martin Hamilton-Smith said: " The Federal Government must mandate for a minimum of 70 per cent Australian worker participation in the submarine and frigates build."
The Abbott Government has put the development of the next Australian submarine program through a competitive evaluation process.
South Australia has demanded an overseas submarine building program be ruled out before the federal government releases its Defence white paper.
South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill says a three-decade commitment is needed to ensure a strong manufacturing sector and economy.
"A strong manufacturing sector in South Australia and indeed the nation requires this nation to commit itself to a strong, local capacity to defend our nation with our own indigenous sovereign defence capability in the manufacturing sector," Weatherill said.
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