THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING
MEMBER FOR SYDNEY

MATT KEOGH MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY
SHADOW MINISTER FOR WA RESOURCES
SHADOW MINISTER ASSISTING FOR SMALL & FAMILY BUSINESS
MEMBER FOR BURT

LIBERALS' TRAINING FAILURES UNDERMINE NAVAL SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY

The defence industry has slammed the Morrison Government’s failure on training, saying it will undermine Australia’s naval shipbuilding industry.

A Senate Inquiry has received a damning submission that Australia is ill-equipped to complete the $90 billion dollar Plan that’s supposed to deliver the next generation of defence vessels.

As reported today, the quality of trades training and the number of maritime engineers is “totally inadequate” to build the next generation of submarines, frigates, and patrol boats.

A damning submission from Geoff Crittenden, CEO of Weld Australia, which represents the welding profession in Australia, stated that the quality of Certificate III apprentices being produced in Australia is “totally unacceptable and not of the required standards for the Defence Industry” and that “repeated submissions to consecutive Defence Industry Ministers have been ignored”.

This is further evidence of the Liberal Government’s failure on training. It’s seriously undermining opportunities for Australians to get work in the defence industry.

Under this Government, there have been five Defence Ministers and 24 Ministers across the broader defence portfolio. No wonder defence industry policy is a shambles.

Scott Morrison must assure the public he will not be selling Australian workers short by allowing defence industry jobs to go to foreign workers.

The Morrison Government needs to get serious about the Australian defence industry – that means maximising jobs and training opportunities for the long term.



MONDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2019