NAVAL SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY ANNOUNCED AS A PRIORITY SKILLS SECTOR

A new Naval Shipbuilding Industry Reference Committee (IRC) has been established to examine the competencies and skills needed to support Australia’s naval shipbuilding and sustainment industries over the coming decades.

It is the first time the Federal Government has implemented a Naval Shipbuilding Industry Reference Committee under the Australian Industry Skills Committee (AISC) umbrella.

 

Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash made the announcement today in Adelaide, where the Naval Shipbuilding College is being established to grow South Australia’s defence industry skilled workforce, as part of the Liberal National Government’s $90 billion Naval Shipbuilding Plan.

 

“Along with a $90 billion commitment to our defence industry that includes a new Naval Shipbuilding College here in Adelaide, the Liberal National Government has also committed $1.5 billion to the Skilling Australians Fund to create 300,000 new apprentices across Australia over the next four years.

 

“We are skilling young Australians, creating training places and working with industry to ensure we meet the workforce needs of our growth sectors, such as defence,” Minister Cash said.

 

“I applaud the Marshall Government for being the first state government to sign up to the Skilling Australians Fund and committing to create over 20,000 new apprentices for South Australia, many of whom will work in the defence industries on this record $90 billion Naval Shipbuilding Plan.

 

“It is disappointing that the Andrews Labor Government in Victoria has turned its back on $320 million to create 65,000 apprentice and training places over four years, and the Queensland Labor Palaszczuk Government has refused to sign, forgoing $245 million for 50,000 new apprentice and training places.”

 

AISC Chair, Professor John Pollaers OAM, welcomed the strong interest and support from industry to participate and contribute to the IRC.

 

“The Naval Shipbuilding IRC will work closely with the Naval Shipbuilding College and other IRCs to understand workforce requirements for the naval shipbuilding and sustainment industries. It will have a full ‘tertiary focus’ to ensure that both the vocational and higher education sectors are responsive to the skilling needs of the naval shipbuilding and sustainment industries.”