Brian Mitchell (Lyons, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I think it says something that three Labor MPs from Tasmania are united in supporting this motion moved by my friend the member for Braddon and seconded by the member for Bass and that an identical motion has passed the Senate with bipartisan support. Tasmania stands united, no matter your politics, when it comes to getting a fairer deal on defence training and manufacturing opportunities. Tasmania has led the way with marine training and research for many years, with students relocating to our island state to develop skills and get the training that gets them jobs at sea. The expertise involved in training people for a life at sea is directly relevant to the motion before the Chamber.

I can think of no centre in Australia that is better placed to provide maritime defence training than the Australian Maritime College in Tasmania. Indeed, the partnerships between business, the AMC and the University of Tasmania are strong, and they are hugely beneficial to the region.

Associate Professor Irene Penesis says Tasmania is:

… at the forefront of marine renewable energy research in Australia.

The Australian Maritime College at the University of Tasmania has the largest collection of marine renewable energy researchers in the country. Our research is founded on the huge renewable energy potential of Tasmania, with its powerful waves and tides, and proven hydro and wind resources

It is a leader in this field of marine technology.

The quality and reputation of both AMC and UTAS continue to grow. AMC delivers the kind of training that you cannot find anywhere else in the world. It is innovative, flexible and diversity in its training models. Recently, the French team that has Australia's $50 billion submarine construction contract has signed up to use AMC's training expertise. My colleague the member for Braddon has brought this motion to the House, seeking bipartisan support from the House—we already have it from the Senate—to continue placing Tasmania at the front and centre of planning and development for defence investment.

It is important to remind members from the mainland that Tasmania has an important role to play in both defence training and manufacturing. I was delighted to hear the member for Braddon earlier, saying that in the Senate this motion had the support of the Minister the Defence Materiel and the shadow minister for defence. That is just fantastic news. Obviously, the message is getting to where it needs to go. From where I sit, the spirit of bipartisanship notwithstanding, it looks like WA and SA do more than all right from defence investment, and we would like to see a little more come to Tasmania.

A future that includes defence manufacturing is important for Tasmania in terms of secure, well-paid and highly-skilled work. But it is of equal benefit to the nation. It makes sense to place critical manufacturing assets required for defence as far as possible from potential threats. Unless we are expecting an invasion of ICBMs from Antarctica or—to paraphrase Liberal Senator Eric Abetz, 'militarised penguins'—Tasmania is as secure as it comes.

Tasmanians also have the capacity, the drive, the skills and the passion to manufacture maritime defence assets that are world standard. We already do that. In addition to the sought-after civilian ferries, Incat, in the south of Tasmania, provides catamarans to the US Navy. Taylor Bros specialise in large-scale prefabricated ship fit-outs, and have just been awarded a contract for the supply and installation of combination products for new antiwarfare destroyers.

Specialist antenna supplies, Moonraker Australia—I cannot say that without thinking of James Bond!—will supply antennas for new vessels, while Liferaft Systems Australia designs and manufactures marine evacuation systems and large-capacity life rafts. CBG Systems is globally competitive in shipboard fire protection and installation, while Muir Engineering Group produces winches and windlasses for mega-yachts around the world. And Richardson Devine Marine builds fast ferries and offshore support vessels for export markets, including Tanzania, Japan and New Zealand.

In my electorate, we have highly-skilled workforces at The Engineering Company in Brighton, at Elphinstone Australia at Triabunna and at Haywards at Evandale to name a few. These worksites concentrate on advanced manufacturing, producing products used all over the world—including the unforgiving terrain of the Antarctic.

What this motion offers is long-term jobs generation and the building of a skilled defence manufacturing workforce, which is itself a national security asset. Siting defence manufacturing in Tasmania has a flow-over effect into the wider Tasmanian community, ensuring an influx of energy and dollars. Critically, it will have a positive effect on the employment of apprentices as well; since 2013 we have lost too many.

I urge members opposite to support this motion and to work with us. Thank you

See this speech in context