$875 million Defence base investment to deliver nationwide jobs

Joint media release: 

• Minister for Defence Industry and Minister for Science and Technology, The Hon Melissa Price MP
  
   

The Morrison Government will create more than 1600 Australian jobs by investing $875 million in 234 Defence projects across the country as part of its plan to continue to strengthen the nation’s sovereign defence capability.

The investment in 2022-23 will involve upgrades and sustainment works across major Defence sites, including ports, barracks, airfields, working accommodation, training areas and communication stations.

It includes:

• 79 projects in NSW worth $298 million;
• 41 in Queensland worth $166 million;
• 34 in the Northern Territory worth $112 million;
• 29 in Victoria worth $122 million;
• 28 in South Australia worth $106 million;
• 23 in Western Australia worth $71 million

The Estate Works Program is expected to create up to 1,660 construction jobs in 2022-23, providing a major economic boost for the communities that host ADF bases and training areas.

Minister for Defence Peter Dutton said the announcement represented the biggest investment in the Estate Works Program since the contract began in 2014.

“The Defence estate is an important national asset and is an integral part of enabling Defence to meet its force capabilities,” Minister Dutton said.

“Just weeks ago we announced our plans to grow the size of the ADF across the Army, Royal Australian Navy and Air Force, and we know that if we are to attract additional personnel, we need to ensure our facilities are safe and fit for purpose.”

The multi-million dollar spending boost will also help create jobs and opportunities for the Australian tradespeople who will be employed to carry out these works.

“We understand that communities are built around some of these bases,” Minister Dutton said.

This is an investment in those communities that will see thousands of jobs directly and indirectly created through these projects.”

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the Government’s investments would provide greater opportunities for Defence contractors across the country.

“These facilities are often in regional parts of Australia, meaning small and medium businesses in these areas get the chance to play a vital role in the upgrade and maintenance of our Defence facilities,” Minister Price said.

“With our $270 billion investment in Australia’s defence capability, we are going to continue to drive job growth for years to come.”

The projects will be released via AusTender in the coming months.