Page 19 - Tropic Magazine Issue 35

TROPIC • DEFENCE

Credit: Australian Defence Force.

Growth industries

JOBS
The number of jobs being
created to support massive
growth in the defence sector is
increasing at a rapid rate.

Words: Renee Cluff
The federal government is investing “Our significant investment is reliant $280 billion
hundreds of billions of dollars in Defence on us supporting the growth of strong,
over the next ten years, including right robust, and skilled Australian defence What the Federal Government is
here in Far North Queensland. industries,” she said. “We must be able investing in enhanced Defence
As well as upgrades to HMAS Cairns to build what we need at home to defend capabilities over the next decade
Naval Base, the region is benefitting from ourselves when we need it and the
the establishment of a local maintenance COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on
centre for naval vessels, as well as the just how critical that is.” RECENT LOCAL INVESTMENT
delivery of mariner training and support. Innovators are particularly sought after Two five-year contracts with the
The upshot is that industries that provide in an increasingly deteriorating global Royal Australian Navy worth more
services and products supporting strategic environment. “From large than $100 million combined include:
this investment can expect sustained multi-national companies to medium
future growth. Minister for Defence and small Aussie businesses, • NORSTA Maritime’s $70-million
Industry Melissa Price said that means the creativity and ingenuity on display contract for the Cairns Regional
employment opportunities across a wide right across Australia points to the fact Maintenance Centre.
variety of sectors. that there are many opportunities for The company is a local
skilled Australians to find fulfilling, consortium led by Tropical Reef
Shipyard and Norship.
well-paid jobs,” Ms Price said.
“We must ensure we have the most • $36 million for TAFE Queensland’s
cutting-edge technology available to the Cairns campus to deliver mariner
Credit: Norsta Maritime.
men and women of the ADF.” training and support to the Navy
crews of the Guardian Class
patrol boats.
WHERE THE JOBS ARE
FUTURE LOCAL
Design INVESTMENT
• $155-million refurbishment of the
Training
HMAS Cairns naval base over the
Manufacturing next 10 to 15 years
• The Cairns Marine Precinct
IT support (CMP). Pressure is on both the
state and federal governments to
Engineering act on a detailed business case.
Investment in the hundreds of
Construction
millions of dollars is required.
Project management
and logistics
MORE: defencejobs.gov.au

19 • tropicnow.com.au