Jeremy Rockliff,Minister for Advanced Manufacturing and Defence Industries
The AMC is a world class training provider and it's disappointing that that the Pacific Maritime Training Services program tender has been awarded to Queensland, after the program had called Tasmania home for some time.
However, it's important to highlight that the outcome is the result of a competitive tender process through which outcomes are not guaranteed.
I understand that the AMC are looking to strategically deploy affected staff, and I remain incredibly optimistic about the AMC's future in Tasmania and indeed across the globe.
The AMC is exploring new opportunities in specialised fields such as autonomous vehicles and the design and delivery of digital training solutions targeted at online international maritime training markets.
I recently went to Canberra to pursue a range of trade and defence opportunities for Tasmania, which included exploring future training opportunities at AMC. These discussions were positive and are ongoing.
The Australian Government is investing heavily in the Defence and Maritime Innovation and Design Precinct at AMC which supports the Tasmanian Government's objective to develop world class defence and national security research, education and training capabilities.
The Precinct will form a national hub for defence industry and research collaboration, and will enhance the University of Tasmania's (UTAS) national and international networks, supporting and promoting Australia's defence expertise.
There is an enormous opportunity for Tasmanian manufacturers and institutions in the nation's $270 billion efforts to modernise and bring sovereign industry capabilities to our maritime, land and aerospace defence capability needs, over the next decade.
In addition, our Tasmanian Defence Industry Strategy provides the certainty and strategic direction we promised industry to ensure they can take their defence capabilities to the next level.
Whilst this decision is a disappointing one, AMC will continue to seek new opportunities here and aboard.
