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“In a world of rapid economic change and heightened strategic competition, investing in modern defence industries serves our economic and national security interests,” Treasurer Jim Chalmers said in his budget announcement last night. The defence budget papers enhance the recently released IIP and strategy paper with a significant ramp up in spending on maritime projects including nuclear submarines, warships and their infrastructure. The clear focus on maritime spending is illustrated with the stand outs being: • $2.8 billion in 2024-25 for the nuclear sub program • $813 million for the Hunter-class frigate project • $587 million for the Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels • $81.9 million to support shipbuilding jobs • $166.2 million over five years to support small and medium businesses and local defence industry as part of the Defence Industry Development Strategy • $28 million to implement reforms under the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024 • $232.3 million for international military support, including $144.3 million for Ukraine. Unfortunately there were few new announcements on equipment and program priorities, with further clarification to come during the upcoming industry forums such as LEWG, Land Forces, and with a closer look at the Portfolio Budget Statements over the coming days to examine what opportunities are likely to come to market in the near term. #DefenceIndustry #DefenceCapability #DefenceConsulting #2024Budget

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📣 Applications for the Defence Industry Development Grant (DIDG) program open tomorrow and will remain continuously open. Eligible Australian businesses can begin preparing an application to any of the four streams which include Sovereign Industrial Priorities, Exports, Skilling, and Security. The Defence Industry Development Grant program provides up to $39 million per year until mid-2028 to support small or medium sized Australian businesses operating in the defence sector to enhance their capabilities, capacity and security posture. Initial batch opportunities for the Exports and Skilling streams will close on 31 July 2024 and initial batch opportunities for the Sovereign Industrial Priorities and Security streams will close on 31 August 2024. For more information and to apply: https://lnkd.in/gBWgKnaf

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QDSA welcomes the release of the inaugural National Defence Strategy (NDS) and the rebuilt Integrated Investment Program (IIP) from the Federal Government today.    Developed in response to last year’s Defence Strategic Review, the 2024 NDS sets out a fundamentally new approach to the defence of Australia and our interests, while the IIP outlines the Government's capability investment priorities. This involves a complete rebuild of Defence’s capability procurement plan to meet Australia’s strategic circumstances and accelerate critical capabilities in a practical and affordable way.  According to the Government, together the NDS and IIP provide a blueprint for a significant transformation of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to an integrated, focused force capable of safeguarding Australia’s security for decades to come. The QDSA team look forward to sharing our insights about the opportunities and potential collaborations that align with Queensland's research and Defence industry capabilities in the coming weeks and months. For more information and to view copies of the newly released NDS and IIP, please visit: https://lnkd.in/g_6E3M7N #australiandefenceforce #defenceinnovation #defenceresearch #defenceindustry #defencestrategy

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Get ready to innovate! The Defence Innovation Partnership's Activator Fund is set to open on Tuesday 25 June! The fund will explore two themes: understanding and countering influence, and scalable distributed active sensing and sensemaking systems. Interested in learning more? Register for our information sessions on Friday 21 and Friday 28 June. See below for details ⬇ #DefenceIndustry

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The government has released the inaugural National Defence Strategy and 2024 Integrated Investment Program. Building on the Defence Strategic Review, this will sharpen #AusNavy’s focus, provide a foundation for our planning, and shape our ability to meet the nation’s intent for an integrated, focused force. #NDS2024

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The time for action is NOW! At Soto Consulting Engineers, we believe in Australia’s ability to build a strong defence industry that showcases our nation's commitment to innovation, sustainability and defence readiness. Australia has a distinctive way of engineering and innovating. At SOTO, we stand firm in the belief that a commitment to research, development, and innovation must remain at the forefront of engineering excellence in the Australian defence sector. For over 25 years, SOTO has specialised in providing engineering solutions, with a focus on sectors such as mining, infrastructure, renewables and bulk materials. Consistently, we apply advanced analysis tools and methods and leverage cutting-edge technologies and innovative designs to deliver swift solutions. Now, we are in a prime position to engage with and contribute to the 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆. What innovative solutions can we provide? ✅ Our passion for prioritising inspiration, imagination and creativity fosters 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 ✅ SOTO’s expertise and timely approach support 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 ✅ Significantly 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀 of any 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀 ✅ Committed to delivering 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 based on innovative solutions, positioning us as a key partner in shaping the future of Australia's defence landscape. What makes your assistance valuable? Whilst we applaud the current efforts of the major players within the defence space, we believe more needs to be done. We understand the need for Australian SMEs, like us, here at SOTO, to be a vital link for the upcoming future. SMEs will be significant in delivering the broader outcomes of building and maintaining surface vessels and providing a pipeline of talent and skills. At SOTO, we are equipped to continue forging partnerships to leverage the combined skills and technology essential for safeguarding Australia’s defence and national security. We firmly advocate for the power of collaboration to shape the trajectory of Australian defence. Together, with ‘the SOTO way’, we are eager to fortify our nation's security and make a lasting impact. We are Defence Ready! Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g9ZzrfwD #EverythingEngineered #AustralianInnovation #DefenceIndustry #SOTO #EngingeeringExcellence #AustralianDefence #Innovation

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I was in Parliament House yesterday and heard claims that officials appearing before the Budget round of Senate Estimates hearings are deploying tactics from the Albanese estimates playbook to avoid accountability, despite claims to the contrary that no such guide exists. This aligns with my concerns expressed earlier this week: "Senate Estimates kick off this Tuesday, and it looks like PM @AlboMP has come prepared with his guide on evasion! "Evasion Expertise: Labor’s Guide to Political Sidestepping" may not be a bestseller, but it’s certainly headline material. Last month the Liberal Party revealed the existence of a secret manual from the Prime Minister’s Office instructing departments on how to avoid answering questions. This is a new low from the Albanese Labor Government, showing clear contempt for the Senate and a blatant disregard for accountability. Senator Simon Birmingham @Birmo said it best: "The Prime Minister has serious questions to answer about this document. Avoiding transparency and accountability only endorses its contents." If you can dodge a question, you can dodge accountability! Has PM Albanese retracted his manual, or will his government face the Senate with the transparency he promised?" Senate Estimates should be a forum where officials answer questions transparently and provide information for the public record. However, it seems that this critical process is being undermined. If tactics from a "guide on evasion" are being used, it threatens the integrity of Estimates, turning it from a tool for public accountability into one for obfuscation. Transparency and accountability are paramount. We must ensure that Senate Estimates remain a robust mechanism for scrutinising government actions, not a stage for political sidestepping.

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‼ The needs of Defence families must be considered when addressing the issue of ADF recruitment and retention. One of our advocacy achievements in our Winter 2023 Advocacy Map was a submission to the Defence Strategic Review (DSR). In this submission, DFA urged capability managers to consider potential impacts on families in Defence planning, and to recognise families as a Fundamental Input to Capability (FIC). While DFA has been without an Advocate for the last 10 months and operating in caretaker arrangements, our National Delegates for South Australia, Northern Territory and the Kimberley, and North Queensland have been on the ground and advocating strongly for families impacted by the strategic focus on northern Australia. Our team has been liaising with local councils, State/Territory and Federal Members and Ex-Serving Organisations to raise families' concerns and advocate for clear communication and action across all levels of government. We are heartened that others working in the military families space have also called on Defence to strongly consider families - and our evolving needs. In an article published last week in the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Dr Amy Johnson 📖 wrote: "Defence families must be considered as key stakeholders in the smooth running of the ADF, as they play an important role in the retention of armed forces personnel. The stereotype of military spouses as ‘silent, self-sacrificing’ partners no longer holds true—they increasingly expect their needs to be addressed to help ease the disruptions caused by frequent relocations. Military organisations don’t yet fully accommodate these needs, but the shift north provides an opportunity to change." You can read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gKynSYvw We are optimistic that our advocacy and recommendations around communication to families and housing concerns will be implemented. If your family will be affected by changes under the DSR, please reach out to the National Delegate for your region on the details listed at https://lnkd.in/gDdABdPF Matt Thistlethwaite Matt Keogh Luke Gosling MP Scott Stewart MP Phillip Thompson OAM MP Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner

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🔈 Calling all Businesses in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Region 🔈   We at ADROITA are excited to support the Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Defence Network (ISRDN) in developing a series of capability maps. This initiative will enable the ISRDN to advocate for the incredible businesses in the Illawarra Shoalhaven region.   🔍 Why It Matters: ✅ Help your business to win defence contracts ✅ Attracting significant investment to the Illawarra Shoalhaven region Your participation in the upcoming survey (releasing June 10) is crucial. It will ensure we create a comprehensive product that reflects the true potential of the Illawarra Shoalhaven regions businesses.   Your input will be instrumental in this journey. #PartneringForSuccess #Illawarra #Shoalhaven #Defence

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Our energy sector is undergoing a transformation. The NSW Government has committed to achieving a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030 and has set out to achieve this through a shift to renewable energy sources. This shift will demand skilled labour to meet the needs of this emerging sector, with growth in NSW annual workforce demand predicted to rise from 9,000 in 2023 to 13,000 in 2027, and further peaks in 2028 and 2035.

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Procurement - A WHS Compliant Service › Embed WHS as a core RFQ / RFT requirement. › Maintain your workplace WHS culture. › Assess and manage risk. How our expertise differs: https://lnkd.in/d39A3Mnr

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The founding philosophy and objectives behind WA DEFENCE REVIEW and our Annual Publication concept remain as relevant now as they were eight years ago. Click here to view the interview with WA DEFENCE REVIEW Founder, CEO and Principal Editor, Serge DeSilva-Ranasinghe: https://lnkd.in/gC3c7G_A Since the launch of our inaugural 2018-19 Annual Publication which is now coming into the 6th edition, WA DEFENCE REVIEW has grown from modest beginnings into a more consolidated and established publisher and media agency. Looking back at our the 2018-19 annual digest launch highlights video, we can ascertain how much has been accomplished since. See: https://lnkd.in/gTR5iPdz Please follow WA DEFENCE REVIEW to receive our updates. #defence #defenceindustry #technology #innovation #Perth #westernaustralia #wadefencereview #wadefence #industry #aukus #australia #manufacturing #engineering #aviation #naval #maritime #aerospace #submarines #policy #strategy #internationalrelations #indianocean #aukus

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It was a typically hard headed Budget Reply by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton tonight — tough talking populism on immigration, housing, nuclear energy and crime. Dutton flagged a back to basics approach that will be delivered by a (former) tough cop on the beat, after accusing the Albanese Government of a whopping $315bn spending spree that had put Australia on "a dangerous path." Dutton's big focus was on cutting back immigration — now running at more than 500,000 a year back to 140,000 in his first year in office — a ban on foreign investment in established homes for two years, and a cap on foreign students. This would be to close the gap between an expected 923,000 migrants in the next 3 years and the construction in the same period of only 265,000 new homes. He promised to strip back costs by stepping back from renewables that would require $1.3 trillion dollars on networks to deliver in favour of nuclear generation installed on coal fired power sites; and rolling back the proposed Future Made in Australia support. Dutton doubled down on giving people access to $50k of their superannuation for a home deposit (on the proviso it be returned to the super fund when the house was sold). On crime, Dutton believes Canberra has a role in harmonising and toughening up State bail and knife laws, and proposed making uploading crime on social media a criminal offence with an up to two year jail term. As is often the case with Budget Replys, it was a bit scant on detail, with a promise of more detail as the electoral cycle rolls on, with some particular impatience on the Coalition's promised nuclear policy. However it did succeed in drawing the political battle lines. No flashy vision here, more an appeal to restore living standards, a return to a pre-pandemic normality that winds back government and taxes. Elites will hate it particularly as they see debate about immigration as divisive and distasteful, despite it being a touchstone issue across all the World's major democracies; and the nuclear policy will be a rallying point for the Left. However Dutton is zeroing in on issues of real community concern where the Albanese Government has left the goal posts wide open and is politically vulnerable on. Dutton will be banking that the times will suit a Leader who learnt his life lessons the hard way as a cop on the mean streets who went on to become a successful small businessman. #2024BudgetReply #Immigration #Housing #Crime #ToughTalkingPopulism

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What we need is a National Apprenticeship Commission to lead policy and implementation issues to ensure apprenticeships and traineerships are fit for purpose and apprentices and trainees are protected from exploitation, poor supervision or inappropriate workplace learning. Speak to the NSW industry Training Advisory Bodies (ITABs). They already give the government expert industry advice on vocational education and training matters in NSW.

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Defence Minister Richard Marles outlines defence investment with big jump in spending Defence Minister Richard Marles has outlined an ambitious Integrated Investment Program which incudes a jump in defence spending to the equivalent of 2.4 percent of GDP by 2033-34, a rise of a massive 0.3 percent on earlier projections. The programme, a response to the 2024 National Defence Strategy, involves a complete rebuild of Defence’s capability procurement plan to meet Australia’s strategic circumstances and accelerate the creation of critical capabilities. Marles said: “To deliver impactful projection, we are making an historic investment in Defence funding – including $330 billion for the Integrated Investment Program over the decade, a significant lift from previous planning. “At a time of complex challenges and increasing uncertainty, a stronger, integrated, focused and capable Defence Force is of the upmost importance.” The government has allocated $330 billion for the Integrated Investment Program over the decade to 2033-34. “This is a significant lift compared to the $270 billion allocated for the 10-year period to 2029-30 as part of the 2020 Defence Strategic Update and 2020 Force Structure Plan.” #manufacturing #manufacturingnews #defenceindustry Richard Marles Pat Conroy https://lnkd.in/g8YNMSJR

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The Labor-Greens Government has failed to deliver on an equitable fare system for Canberrans, a Liberal Government will implement a cheaper fare system that is equitable to all Canberrans. We need a fare system that is simpler and innovative to increase the use of public transport and secure more new passengers. A Canberra Liberals Government will: • Deliver more flexible payment options through MyWay+ • Set up a free travel zone in the city area. • Provide discounts for regular use through capped weekly fares. We will cap weekly public transport fares, with the weekly adult journey in 2025 being capped at $25. The current single one way adult fare is $3.55, our weekly cap would save commuters up to $19.70 a week or $1024.40 a year. Our policy would encourage the use of public transport off peak and on the weekends, as weekend usage would essentially become free for weekday commuters.

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A lot is being said about the new and updated Commonwealth Procurment rules for SMEs. The fact is, while extending the definition to preclude associated entities is great, the definition of SME still doesn’t align with the ATO definition - a definition based on based revenue and not how many people are employed. We have a government with two definitions of the same thing for the convenience of policy setting. The CPR means a firm with 150 FTE direct employees, an unlimited number of subcontractors who are not employees and a revenue of $800m is an SME, whereas for tax purposes, the ATO holds that and Small enterprise has a revenue of <$10m. This policy and quota for SME participation is hollow without a stronger definition of what an SME really is. I fear not much will change with this CPR revision and its targets. Time will tell. Bottom line: if you’re a reporting entity as defined by Chapter 2M of the Corporations Act 2001 - you’re not an SME and shouldn’t benefit from these changes.

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