The South Australian Government is partnering with the United States’ largest shipbuilder HII to accelerate the development of our state’s defence industry workforce, skills, and supply chain.
Through its newly formed entity in Australia, HII Nuclear Australia Pty Ltd, HII will today sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the South Australian Government.
Premier Peter Malinauskas and Deputy Premier Susan Close will meet with President of HII Nuclear Australia Michael Lempke at an industry briefing in Adelaide, where the US shipbuilder will share opportunities with more than 100 representatives from South Australian businesses to export their products and services beyond Australian defence projects and win work as part of the Virginia Class Submarine program.
The Memorandum of Understanding with the State Government outlines the shared intent of both parties to embark on a cooperative working arrangement – leveraging HII’s international industry learnings and expertise to prepare South Australia for the major shipbuilding projects on our horizon.
The State Government and HII Nuclear Australia will work with local companies, academia and education providers to develop a skilled workforce and strengthen Australia’s industry capability, including through:
- Workforce and skills interventions to increase diversity of the STEM pipeline and address critical skills needs
- Supply chain capability uplift programs
“The AUKUS pact provides an enormous opportunity for Australian defence manufacturers to create highly skilled jobs by supplying Australian submarines made in Australia,” said SA Premier Peter Malinauskas. “But it is also an opportunity to create new opportunities to supply Australian skills and technology into supply chains in the US and UK. To do that – we need to make sure we have enough skilled workers. HII has a strong track record of delivering long-term workforce development initiatives in the US, investing early to engage primary and high-school aged children in STEM education. We are pleased to be partnering with the HII on this endeavour – applying their extensive experience to the enormous economic opportunity we have here in South Australia”.
“While the construction of nuclear-powered submarines is an Australian-first, other jurisdictions have already begun this work in earnest, equipping their local workforces with the specific skillsets required,” said Deputy Premier, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
Minister for Defence and Space Industries Dr Susan Close. “It makes great sense to partner with global industry leaders, like HII, to leverage this existing expertise. This Memorandum of Understanding is a great step towards preparing South Australians for defence industry roles and unlocking the full economic potential of our major shipbuilding projects”.
“This partnership with the South Australian Government is an honour and a significant strategic advantage in HII’s effort to support workforce development aligned with the goals of AUKUS, said HII President, Nuclear and Environmental Services, Michael Lempke. “As the largest employer in many of the communities in which HII operates, we believe that businesses share in the responsibility of developing a skilled workforce. In the United States, HII invests $10 million a year in local communities to build the skilled and motivated workforce required to ensure nuclear programs protect the community and environment surrounding the nuclear site”.
“Establishing a robust, reliable and efficient Australian manufacturing supply chain for nuclear submarine sustainment and construction is strategically critical to HII’s success in achieving the goals of AUKUS Pillar 1,” said HII Executive Vice President, Strategy and Development, Eric Chewning. “Our aspiration for Australia is that, as much as is commercially feasible, we replicate the Virginia Class Submarine supply chain which we have in the US, in Australia, with Australian businesses. HII has partnership with small, medium and large companies in the United States, supportin the construction of conventionally armed and nuclear powered submarines. We are pleased to initiate the process of replicating these partnerships in Australia”.
