To support the defence industry within the region, there will be a new and innovative Defence Industry Hub at Fire Station 101 in Ipswich.
According to Annastacia Palaszczuk, Ipswich’s new $5-million Defence Industry Hub will open in early 2020 with the hopes of growing the area’s manufacturing capabilities and ensuring more jobs for the local community.
“My government remains laser focused on jobs for Queenslanders,” the Premier said.
“We’ve seen 3% jobs growth in the Ipswich region in the past year. But we know there is more to be done to ensure the Ipswich community has access to jobs into the future.”
Ipswich Defence Industry
Ipswich is the southern gateway to the defence enterprises of Queensland.
In fact, the region is home to Australia’s largest defence air base—RAAF Amberley, and the multi-million Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE), which is currently under construction at Redbank Plains.
Photo credit: Ipswich City Council/ Facebook
Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard said the city had a long and productive association with the defence sector.
“Defence represents a significant part of our history, our identity, our community and our future,” she said.
“As a sector, it already generates more than $1.4 billion in export value to our local economy, and nearly 10% of all employment in Ipswich is in the defence industry and associated supply chain.”
Defence Industry Hub
Minister for State Development Cameron Dick stressed that the allocated budget for the new Defence Industry Hub will ensure more opportunities for small-to-medium enterprises to grow.
These enterprises can increase their share of national and global contracts which will then boost local employment and the economy.
“A total of $5 million has been allocated to the Hub, to assist local industry tap into the rapid growth of the defence industries sector and other defence supply chain opportunities, such as heavy vehicle manufacturing and maintenance, aerospace maintenance and the development of trusted autonomous systems,” Mr Dick said.