On the 21 February the state’s new Industry Minister Niall Blair launched a strategy to drive growth across the NSW defence industry. The strategy will provide a major boost to regional NSW, strengthen the economy and further support Australia’s defence needs.

 

Mr Blair said the NSW Government Defence and Industry Strategy – Strong, Smart and Connected – includes the establishment of a new central coordination body– Defence NSW.

“With the Australian Government’s Defence White Paper outlining programs and acquisitions worth more than $195 billion over the coming decade, it’s vital that NSW positions itself to take advantage of the significant opportunities for growth.

 

“Every $1 billion in Commonwealth defence spending we can attract to NSW will boost our Gross State Product by $1.4 billion and support up to 10,000 jobs across the economy.

“Through Defence NSW, we will work with the Commonwealth and other States and Territories to move towards a more national approach to meeting Australia’s Defence needs.

 

“This detailed strategy will provide a coordinated, whole of government approach to prioritise the defence sector as a key driver of growth and innovation across industry, especially in regional NSW,” he said.

Mr Blair said Defence NSW would target the delivery of major projects including the Joint Strike Fighter, Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (LAND400).

 

“It will also focus on major maritime programs like Future Submarines, Offshore Patrol Vessels, and Future Frigate. One of the five main strategies in the Defence and Industry Strategy is to sustain and grow the defence industry across regional NSW, and I couldn’t be more pleased to say we are expecting this work will boost economies across the state, particularly in the Hunter, Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Riverina, Northern NSW and Capital regions,” he said.