Right Priorities, Right Reforms and Right Path for Australia’s Defence Industrial Base

Thales Australia strongly welcomes the Australian Government’s plan to develop the sovereign defence industrial base needed to support National Defence.

CEO of Thales Australia, Jeff Connolly commented:

“The Government has identified key issues and  priorities that would assist expansion of local capabilities consistent with the outcomes of the Defence Strategic Review and the Navy Surface Combatant Fleet analysis.

The measures announced are a welcome shift. The Minister for Defence Industry is to be commended for the broad consultation which will lead to the prioritisation of industrial capability and outlining the expectation of a paradigm shift in the relationship between all stakeholders in the interests of the Nation. These reforms are a timely prerequisite for Australia to meaningfully contribute to the AUKUS framework by establishing the industrial base that we and our allies need. We support the contention that workforce measures through skilling and partnerships with unions and industry will be the make or break to delivering on capability.

It is particularly pleasing that the plan has included cyber security as a critical priority. Thales Australia is particularly welcoming of the emphasis on a deeper engagement with industry to deliver the strategy.

Thales Australia is fully behind the closer industrial collaboration and integration at the heart of the strategy – we’ve always been what our nation needs us to be. Working with Government, unions and our industry partners is in our DNA and we look forward to supporting the realisation of the new reforms.”

Read more about the Government’s announcement of the Defence Industry Development Strategy (DIDS)