Defence National Manufacturing Priority Road Map

The DTC has welcomed the release of the Defence National Manufacturing Priority Roadmap.

A key plank in the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy, it outlines a 10-year plan for investment and industry growth for each of the six National Manufacturing Priorities, of which one is the defence sector.

The Federal Government describes it as a “game changer” that will “super-charge manufacturing and grow jobs”. It forms an integral part of the transformative Modern Manufacturing Strategy, which aims to build Australia’s reputation as a reliable and high-value manufacturing nation.

The road map identifies opportunities for defence manufacturers to build on existing areas of strength such as military vehicle and aircraft manufacturing, naval shipbuilding and marine hardware production, cuttingedge digital technologies such as 3D printing, and explosives and propellants. The road map also identifies opportunities for Australian manufacturers to build scale and capability in three key areas:

• investment in the defence sector

• defence exports

• adapting advanced technologies to the defence sector or for civilian application.

A key figure on the manufacturing landscape is Andrew Liveris, former Dow Chemical chief executive who has advised US presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama.

As head of the manufacturing taskforce on the National COVID-19 Commission Advisory Board, he has been providing advice to the Prime Minister.

Last year he told The Advertiser, that he favoured a national industrial strategy in which each state would take ownership of a key manufacturing sector to reduce duplication and competition across the country, and to fast-track growth. He nominated South Australia for defence manufacturing.

DTC Supports “Unified Approach”

DTC CEO, Audra McCarthy, said the National Manufacturing Defence Roadmap was “an excellent outcome” for Australia’s defence industry.

“One thing that has been lacking to date for Australia is a national perspective on advanced manufacturing, including defence,” she said.

“Until recently, defence has been treated separately, however given the landscape of industry is dominated by small businesses, the majority of which service multiple sectors, Australia truly needed a clear, unified approached to manufacturing. The new Roadmap is an excellent step in the right direction. It not only highlights the importance of the defence industry sector, but it incorporates this into Australia’s advanced manufacturing objectives, something which supports a truly diversified and sovereign industrial capability for Australia.”