Weld Australia has welcomed the Albanese and Malinauskas Governments' announcement of a $3.9 billion investment into the Submarine Construction Yard at Osborne, describing it as a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Australia's advanced manufacturing industry.
The investment forms part of a projected $30 billion infrastructure program over coming decades and will support the construction of Australia's conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS, creating nearly 10,000 jobs across South Australia alone.
For Weld Australia, the peak body representing the nation's welding industry, the announcement signals not just economic stimulus, but a defining moment for sovereign industrial capability.
"This is nation-building at its most strategic," said Geoff Crittenden, CEO of Weld Australia. "The scale of what's planned for Osborne is extraordinary; 126,000 tonnes of structural steel, 66 million construction man hours, fabrication halls stretching 420 metres. Welding and fabrication sit at the heart of every single element of that delivery."
The new Submarine Construction Yard will include fabrication, outfitting, consolidation, testing and commissioning facilities, alongside a world-class Skills and Training Academy capable of supporting up to 1,000 learners per year.
Weld Australia says welding capability will be critical not only in the construction of the yard itself, but in the decades-long build and sustainment of the submarine fleet.
"Welding isn't just part of the construction phase. It underpins the entire submarine lifecycle," Crittenden said. "From high-integrity structural steelwork to precision nuclear-class fabrication and long-term sustainment, certified welders and welding supervisors are fundamental to sovereign defence capability."
Weld Australia says the opportunity must now be matched with a coordinated national workforce strategy. "We're looking at a pipeline of work that will span decades. That's incredibly positive, but it also demands long-term planning," Crittenden said. "If we want to fully capitalise on AUKUS, we must align training, certification and industry capability now."
Weld Australia is actively working with industry, training providers and government agencies to strengthen certification pathways, improve welder productivity, and ensure quality systems meet the exacting standards required for defence projects.
"This is not just about building submarines. It's about lifting Australia's industrial capability across the board, in defence, energy, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing," Crittenden said. "When we invest in welding skills, we invest in productivity, safety and sovereign resilience."
Weld Australia will further this national conversation at the National Manufacturing Summit, to be held in Adelaide on 29 and 30 July. The Summit will bring together defence primes, SMEs, policymakers and training providers to address workforce development, supply chain readiness and quality compliance in defence manufacturing.
"The Summit provides a timely opportunity for industry to come together and tackle the practical issues — skills, standards, productivity and workforce planning — that will determine whether we fully realise this opportunity," Crittenden said. "This is about collaboration, not competition. If we get this right, Australia will strengthen its defence capability and its broader manufacturing base for generations to come."
Weld Australia reaffirmed its strong support for the AUKUS initiative and the strategic investment in South Australia.
"We are right behind this initiative," Crittenden said. "Australia has the capability, the engineering expertise and the industrial know-how to deliver. Now is the time for coordinated action to ensure we have the certified welders, supervisors and inspection professionals required to meet the challenge."
