Inaugural meeting of South Queensland Defence Advisory Board

Published Tuesday, 23 October, 2018 at 02:45 PM

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Cameron Dick

Strategies to continue accelerating the momentum of local defence opportunities were the focus at the first South Queensland Defence Advisory Board meeting, held in western Brisbane today.

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said the inaugural meeting, hosted at Volvo Group’s Wacol headquarters, brought together industry leaders to provide government with vital strategic advice on how to continue boosting investment and jobs in defence.

“After securing the landmark $5 billion LAND 400 deal, which will see Rheinmetall Defence manufacturing new-generation Australian Army vehicles at Redbank, we are now working to maximise further economic opportunities across a range of defence projects,” Mr Dick said.

“Working closely with the proposed defence hub for Ipswich, the South Queensland Defence Advisory Board will offer advice through the Minister’s Advisory Council on how to continue growing the local sector and winning more contracts as part of the Australian Government’s ongoing modernisation of its defence forces.

“This board’s role is being mirrored in the north by the North Queensland Defence Advisory Board to ensure we’re taking full advantage of the unique defence strengths and capabilities that exist right across Queensland.

“Both boards will also help drive the delivery of our Queensland Defence Industries 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan, which is our government’s guide to significant investment attraction in the future.”

Board Chair Jane Hunter, from Boeing Defence Australia, said the region had many strategic advantages in building defence capability, with a strong industrial base supporting over 6,500 jobs and offering access to a global supply chain.

“South Queensland is home to a vibrant and growing defence industry, including some of our state’s key defence assets, such as the Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley, Gallipoli Barracks Enoggera and Greenbank Military Range,” Ms Hunter said.

“We also have an agile network of highly capable defence primes and a growing number of small-to-medium enterprises entering the defence market, helping to position Queensland as a leader in innovative technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems.”

Board member and Volvo Vice President of Marketing and Communications Teresia Fors said south Queensland’s well-developed defence industry made it an ideal place to do business.

“In the 46 years Volvo has had its heavy vehicle operations based in Brisbane, we’ve really seen the industry here grow,” Ms Fors said.

“The capability and innovation that exists in the local supply chain is one of the things that makes it such an appealing place for a prime contractor like us to be based.”

South Queensland Defence Advisory Board members

  • Ms Jane Hunter, Boeing Defence Australia (Chair)
  • Mr Robert (Bob) Brett MC PSC, Wandering Warriors
  • Ms Sarah Earey, L3 Micreo
  • Ms Teresia Fors, Volvo
  • Ms Linda-Ann Griffiths, Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal
  • Ms Bernadette McIntyre, McIntyre Equipment/Steyr Motors
  • Mr Andrew Sanderson, TAE Aerospace
  • Major General Richard Wilson AO (Retd), Queensland Reconstruction Authority
  • Mr Colin Cassidy, Deputy Director-General, DSDMIP (ex officio)

View the Queensland Defence Industries 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan.

ENDS

Media contact: Anika Hume 0447 320 039