The development of South Australia’s current and future defence industry and the engineering involved is an important topic for the State, and has been featured heavily in the media.
Given the recent defence announcements, particularly around shipbuilding centred on Techport in Adelaide, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) SA and NT local network has confirmed that the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, the Federal Minister for Defence Industry, will be speaking at their upcoming event, IET Defence Professional Networks Event.
IET Defence Professional Networks Event
Date: Friday 11 November
Time: 1pm – 5pm
Venue: Adelaide Oval, Ian McLachlan Room - East
Renae Leverenz, General Manager South Australia said, “It is important for our members to be informed about the defence advancements in South Australia and to discuss this significant issue. It will be an opportunity to hear from the Minister about what is in store for the South Australian defence industry - and hopefully learn to what extent local industry will be involved in the build, design, R&D and whole of life support of all major defence assets.”
“This event is timely, given the recent release of Engineers Australia’s Position Statement on the Defence Industry,” Ms Leverenz added.
Defence Industry Position Statement
The technical capability of our defence organisations must not fall at a time when the complexity of systems continues to grow and when many next generation military assets are being procured. High defence engineering capabilities and workforce skills are more important than ever.
Defence engineering is entirely subsumed within the profession of engineering in the broadest sense and engineers play an important role in all defence inputs, from academia and industry to government resources both uniformed and civilian. The latest Defence White Paper explicitly states that industry is a fundamental input to defence capability.
Defence capability includes defence assets, infrastructure, personnel and organisational processes. Systems engineering provides the clearest description of the life cycle management of defence assets from perceived need through requirements analysis, research, development, test, evaluation design, construction, integration, acceptance, operation, sustainment, disposal and new capability development. Engineering plays an essential role in every part of this life cycle.
Numerous reviews continue to highlight the need for defence to be able to make informed procurement decisions, and to be a technically competent owner and operator of engineering-intensive equipment. This cannot be done without specialised workforce skills and expertise throughout the entire asset life-cycles.
Through programs such as the future submarines, Joint Strike Fighter and Hawkei, it is critical that state and federal governments support and develop the skills needed to build and sustain the assets. Engineers Australia supports decisions which back local industry options. It is the capability of the people working on the design, development and delivery of our defence systems that create and shape the acquisition, maintenance and operation of our national defence capability. The development of high-tech skills is an essential public good that benefits the broader economy.
Defence procurement must support industry policy by providing local build, technical assessment, design and research and development opportunities, and whole of life sustainment. Announcements in 2016 for the future of naval ship building in Australia are a welcome commitment to skills development and Australian industry.
The government has recognised that there is a need to ensure Australian industry can sustain and integrate defence capability over its life in Australia and while deployed. We have an extremely capable engineering workforce but if industry is to support major platforms it is critical that it is closely involved in the engineering-intensive design and build phase. This will enable development of the skills and experience required to maintain, operate and upgrade those platforms throughout their lives and provide opportunities for local enterprises to innovate and be part of the supply chain.
To read the full Position Statement and Engineers Australia’s recommendations to government, please visit Engineers Australia Online Newsroom.
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