Drumming up defence business is firmly on Queensland’s radar with a new government team tasked with attracting more spending, projects and jobs.
And the government wants to make the state home to the country’s largest land defence industry expo, Land Forces.
Defence Q has been established to tap into defence industry growth amid a flurry of top defence projects such as the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal and naval shipbuilding in southern and western Australia.
The team’s role will be to connect industry with government to support advanced weapons and munitions manufacturing such as missiles and drones.
Retired brigadier Mick Say has been named Queensland’s new Land Strategic Defence Advisor to help the government turn the state into the centre of Australia’s land forces.
He will join retired duo Rear Admiral Simon Cullen (naval) and Air Vice-Marshal Neil Hart (aerospace) as defence advisors to the government.
The state is already home to the country’s largest airbase, RAAF Amberley, located 8km southwest of Ipswich and home to 6000 personnel on its 2500 hectares.
Queensland currently has more than $1.25 billion in defence industry projects.
The government earmarked $180.6m for a Sovereign Industry Development Fund which it says has attracted more than $193m in defence spending and created 2470 jobs.
Click here to read more about the fund.
DRUMMING UP MORE PROJECTS, JOBS
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie says Defence Q is the next phase of their push involves drumming up more defence investment, projects and jobs.
“Queensland is open for business. Defence Q has a clear mission – position our state to lead the nation when it comes to attracting significant investment in defence …” he says.
He claims that the state has the geography, industry, workforce and existing defence infrastructure as it goes about drumming up the next generation of defence systems and weapons.
“Defence Q has its laser sight on securing the partnerships, projects and investment that strengthen Australia’s sovereign capability while creating high-value jobs and economic opportunities for Queenslanders,” he says.
“Brigadier Say also brings extensive Defence experience to Queensland’s arsenal and will help strengthen our engagement with defence, industry and national stakeholders as we continue building Queensland’s position as Australia’s home of land capability.”
Brigadier Say claims the state has an opportunity to stake its claim as Australia’s land force home.
“There is exceptional potential to grow the Defence industry presence in Queensland and the support it provides to military bases, fighting forces and training activities,” he says.
To learn more about Defence Q, visit www.qld.gov.au/DefenceQ
