The Malinauskas Labor Government is helping the South Australian local defence industry develop their businesses so they can play an important role in the future SSN-AUKUS build program.
The 2025-26 budget provides $3.3 million in funding over two years to assist SA businesses develop the requisite capability and capacity to enter global supply chains for nuclear-powered submarines and support Australian defence programs.
South Australia is home to more than 400 businesses which provide goods and services directly to Defence and deliver into the supply chains of prime contractors in Australia and around the world.
South Australia is about to embark on an industrial transformation to support Australia's nuclear-powered submarine program under the AUKUS agreement.
The State Government wants to help local businesses prepare for the opportunities available by maximising international supply chain connections in critical areas of competitive advantage for the state.
The Defence Supplier Uplift Program will provide financial and technical support to local suppliers to give them a better opportunity to meet the stringent requirements needed to enter the US and UK naval shipbuilding supply chains.
This program continues the successful pilot last year, with the Government partnering with leading US naval shipbuilder, Huntington Ingalls Industries. Five local companies were recently provided with a Newport News Shipbuilding supplier identification number which brings them another step closer to qualifying to participate in the Virginia class nuclear-powered submarine program.
As put by Susan Close
South Australia is embarking on a period of significant industry development on an unprecedented scale due to SSN-AUKUS and we need to maximise the benefits to local industry and our economy.
Nuclear-powered submarines are the most complex machines on the planet, and South Australia is the heart of our nation's endeavour to build them. This requires working with local companies to assist them to scale up for international supply chains.
As put by Stephen Mullighan
Advanced manufacturing is a key economic driver for our state, with 15,000 South Australians directly employed within the defence sector.
The Malinauskas Labor Government wants to help local business develop, so they can capitalise on the upcoming opportunities and enter global supply chains.
This funding will create more jobs, upskill our local workforce and improve export opportunities for South Australians.
As put by Tim Brown AM, Vice President Operations HII-Nuclear Australia, Managing Director – H&B Defence
HII-Australia and H&B Defence were excited to collaborate with the South Australian Government on identifying and uplifting five South Australian companies.
Earlier in the year some of those companies received their HII supplier number, a key step on the pathway to receiving supplier orders to support the Virginia Class Submarine program.
We congratulate the South Australian government on building on this successful pilot
