The announcement of a $25 million Maritime Technical College to train Australian workers for our $90 billion naval shipbuilding program has been welcomed by the SA State Government.
SA Minister for Defence Industries Martin Hamilton-Smith said says the Adelaide-based College is another example of the benefits that will flow from Australian industry building ships for Royal Australian Navy.
He said the Maritime Technical College, to deliver international-standard training across the country in key areas such as welding and naval engineering, was the result of South Australia’s ‘Australian jobs in Australian defence’ campaign, started three years ago.
Based in Adelaide, the Maritime College will deliver world-class training in key areas such as steel fabrication and naval engineering. Its announcement follows yesterday’s news that three South Australian public universities, TAFE SA and the defence industry sector had grouped together to ensure Australian jobs were at the forefront of the shipbuilding programs.
The Defence Industry Education and Skills Consortium (DIESC) is an initiative of the University of Adelaide, Flinders University, University of South Australia, TAFE SA and the Defence Teaming Centre, working closely with defence industry companies large and small.
Minister Hamilton-Smith congratulated the Federal Government for "backing the local option" and said the SA Government would work closely with it to "make it happen".
"Our DefenceSA Advisory Board has representatives from the universities and we will provide funding to the Defence Teaming Centre to make sure South Australia has a voice in this national industry."