Susan Close MP Deputy Premier Minister for Defence and Space Industries One of South Australia’s leading defence industry experts, Matt Opie, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Defence SA. Mr Opie replaces outgoing CE Richard Price who resigned in December 2023. An Australian Defence Force Academy and Royal Military College Duntroon graduate, Mr Opie has held senior defence positions across government, industry and academia over the course of his 30-year career. He served as an Officer in the Royal Australian Corps of Signals both in Australia and the Middle East. Since then, he has worked on defence ...

Peter Malinauskas MP Premier Susan Close MP Deputy Premier Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Minister for Defence and Space Industries Long term continuous naval shipbuilding in Adelaide has been secured for decades to come with the Federal Government confirming it will proceed with the construction of Hunter class frigates and a replacement vessel for the Navy’s Hobart class destroyers at Osborne. Construction on the first Hunter class frigate will begin this year, with the Albanese Government committing funding to a program which will see the final Hunter frigate delivered to the Navy by 2043. The Hunter class will be ...

Susan Close MP Acting Premier Minister for Defence and Space Industries In a huge vote of confidence in South Australia, the Commonwealth Government has agreed to provide more than 1000 additional STEM-focused university places in SA from next year to support the state’s endeavours in building nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines. The Commonwealth’s commitment will see South Australia receive more than a quarter of the 4001 new additional STEM places announced nationwide. The 1030 new places in SA represents an increase of 230 on the commitment first secured by the South Australian Government in a Cooperation Agreement with the Commonwealth in ...

Peter Malinauskas MP Premier Susan Close MP Deputy Premier Minister for Defence and Space Industries The South Australian Government is partnering with the United States’ largest shipbuilder HII to accelerate the development of our state’s defence industry workforce, skills, and supply chain. Through its newly formed entity in Australia, HII Nuclear Australia Pty Ltd, HII has today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the South Australian Government. Premier Peter Malinauskas and Deputy Premier Susan Close met with President of HII Nuclear Australia Michael Lempke at an industry briefing in Adelaide, where the US shipbuilder shared opportunities with more than 100 representatives from ...

The Hon Richard Marles MP Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Defence The Hon Peter Malinauskas MP Premier of South Australia The Hon Brendan O'Connor MP Minister for Skills and Training The Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon Richard Marles MP, and Premier of South Australia, the Hon Peter Malinauskas MP today released the South Australian Defence Industry Workforce and Skills Report and Action Plan, delivering a detailed strategy to grow and sustain South Australia’s defence industry workforce for the future. Through the South Australian Defence Industry Workforce and Skills Taskforce, the Commonwealth and South Australian Governments have ...

South Australia's defence research capability will be boosted by a history-making partnership which will see Flinders University become the first Australian university to join forces with a key United States Navy research centre. The landmark Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Naval Undersea Warfare Centre (NUWC) Division Newport marks a significant step forward in advancing collaborative research between the United States and Australia in the field of undersea technology. NUWC Division Newport is the US Navy’s full-spectrum research, development, test and evaluation, engineering, and fleet support centre for submarine warfare systems and other systems associated with the undersea battlespace. ...

Australian submarine company ASC has agreed to a significant partnership with Tonsley Technical College that will provide employment pathways for school students into defence industries. ASC has a skilled workforce of more than 1,900 employees and ongoing workforce demand. As a key employer partner at the Tonsley Technical College, ASC will shape the learning experiences, support workplace learning and provide job opportunities through apprenticeships for students when they complete their programs. This valuable employer partnership will also bolster the advanced manufacturing and engineering pathway being offered at the technical college, helping to ensure students are workplace ready when they complete ...

South Australian apprentices will be able to study at university and earn money while working for a defence employer under Australia’s first genuine Degree Apprenticeship, supported by funding from the Malinauskas Labor Government.