Federal Labor’s Tasmania Taskforce today met in Hobart to discuss the future of the defence industry in Tasmania.
Labor’s Shadow Minister for Defence, Senator Stephen Conroy and Labor Senator for Tasmania, Catryna Bilyk held a roundtable with representatives from Tasmania’s defence and maritime industry.
“Whether it’s supplying boots to soldiers or vessels to the Navy, Tasmania has an established reputation for providing high quality products to the Australian Defence Force,” Senator Bilyk said, “but we have the potential to do so much more.”
Much of the discussion at the roundtable centered on a Tasmanian maritime consortium’s bid as part of Defence’s Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement program.
“Following my discussions today, I have every confidence that the Tasmanian consortium has put together a highly competitive proposal,” Senator Conroy said.
Senator Conroy called on Defence Minister Marise Payne to visit Tasmania and reassure local industry that it will have a fair opportunity to compete for Defence contracts.
“After two years of Tony Abbott’s disastrous ‘Captain’s Picks’ and political interference, Malcom Turnbull and Marise Payne must reassure defence industry, including here in Tasmania, that it will be given fair go to compete,” said Senator Conroy.
Senator Bilyk said that the clear message from Tasmanian industry was that the Federal Government needed to show confidence in the industry, but that Malcolm Turnbull’s demotion of Tasmanian Liberals was a worrying sign.
“Tasmania has a lot to offer Australian defence industry and I am worried that there are no Tasmanians at the Cabinet table advocating for Tasmanian industry,” Senator Bilyk said.
Labor’s Tasmania Taskforce was established by the Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten to develop a clear and coherent strategy that will grow jobs and enable Tasmania’s sustainable development into the future.
The Taskforce has held regional forums in the South, North and North-West, and is continuing its consultations with a series of industry roundtables.
The defence industry roundtable was followed by a tour of Incat with the Chairman of the Tasmania Maritime Network, Richard Lowrie.
SENATOR THE HON STEPHEN CONROY DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE SENATOR FOR VICTORIA SENATOR CATRYNA BILYK DEPUTY OPPOSITION WHIP IN THE SENATE SENATOR FOR TASMANIA
