After watching other states like Western Australia (WA) and South Australia (SA) win defence contract after contract, New South Wales (NSW) begs the question, where is its place in Australian defence and security?
Earlier in September 2025, it was announced that $12 billion was being invested by the Federal Government into a defence precinct at Henderson, WA, to deliver continuous naval shipbuilding and AUKUS.
“Today’s investment is another way we are delivering record defence funding to bolster Australia’s capabilities," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commented at the time.
ADM spoke to NSW Government’s Shadow Minister for Jobs, Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology, Mark Coure, on his state’s future in AUKUS and the NSW defence industry as a whole.
Shadow Minister Coure believes that the NSW government needs to do more to secure the confidence of defence industry to gain investment.
“We need to send a strong signal to defence companies in NSW that we’re an attractive place to invest, that we are an attractive place to do business,” he said.
To do this, Shadow Minister Coure recommends more investment in the defence industry through “defence apprenticeships, micro-credentials, and direct industry pathways between education and employment.”
“Whilst AUKUS is going to be a pipeline of dreams for states, territories and defence companies, we want to be able to create a defence industry off the back of all this investment, so the work does not dry up once the initial phase of the AUKUS agreement ends,” he explained.
“Workforce shortages are already identified as one of the biggest risks to the future growth of defence industry. NSW should establish itself now as a skills and training hub for Australia’s defence future.”
Shadow Minister Coure argues that AUKUS has a lot to offer NSW, including jobs, investment and innovation, all things that states like WA and SA are benefitting from.
He said the NSW government has not yet provided a statement of support for the AUKUS pact, something he believes should be provided.
“At the end of the day NSW should stand ready to support AUKUS in whatever capacity we can do. It’s not just about the submarines themselves, it’s also about the high-quality local jobs, the investment, skills, and economic growth that this pact offers the people of NSW,” he added.
According to Shadow Minister Coure, he has made a concerted effort to engage with NSW defence partners including DroneShield, the Birdon Group in Port Macquarie and a number of global defence primes with a presence in Australia. He wants to demonstrate bi-partisan support for greater investment into the defence industry in NSW.
He feels that if NSW does not act, it is highly likely it will be left behind whilst other states and territories reap the economic benefits of the AUKUS $368 billion pie.
Coure said he would like to see investment in defence precincts in places like the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, innovation hubs near universities and other significant defence towns like Wollongong and Newcastle.
“The NSW Defence Industry needs strong champions in government and within the Parliament and I am determined to lead the charge on ensuring that we are backing in high-skilled local jobs and playing our part in Australia’s national security,” the Shadow Minister said.