Address at Astra Aerolab, Williamtown

Thank you very much. And I start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land, the Worimi people. And pay my respects to their elders, past, present and emerging. Thank you, Ian, for your introduction. I acknowledge my good friend and fierce advocate for the Australian defence industry, Meryl Swanson MP, the Federal Member for Paterson and Chair of Parliamentary Friends of Defence Industry. Can I also acknowledge Mayor Leah Stevens of Port Stephens -- sorry, Leah Anderson of Port Stephens Council who's been such a strong advocate for this project as well and acknowledge representatives of the Newcastle City Council and the local business community. Can I also acknowledge Øyvind Kolset, KDA Executive or Confer Executive Vice President, Missile Systems. John Fry, Managing Director and thank you for your fierce advocacy and leadership. And Peter Cock, Newcastle Airport CEO. 

 It's a terrific day to be here at the Astra AeroLab, Australia's newest defence and aerospace precinct. Today is an incredibly important major milestone for the Hunter and Kongsberg Defence Australia and our relationship with Norway. The Hunter has always been at the forefront of protecting Australia and keeping Australians safe. There were steel workers and metal workers in the Hunter who were pivotal in supporting Australia's munitions industry during the Second World War making sure our soldiers had what they needed to protect Australia's sovereignty. This region also built modules for the Collins-class submarines and the Air Warfare Destroyers. And it's the Albanese Labor Government that's continuing to hunt for proud legacy of safeguarding our national security through our $850 million commitment to manufacture Naval Strike missiles and Joint Strike missiles in Williamtown. This investment will create more than 500 jobs constructing the facility and another 100 ongoing high tech, high skilled jobs to make these missiles. Delivering more advanced manufacturing for the Hunter and greater financial security for families across the Hunter and all up. It will inject around $100 million into the local Hunter economy, boosting the Hunter's status as the regional epicentre of defence manufacturing in NSW. 

Friends, this is all about keeping Australians safe and supporting a future made in Australia. This project we are breaking the ground for today reflects the Albanese Government's commitment to a record investment in the guided weapons and explosive ordnance enterprise. An investment of $16 to $21 billion dollars over the next decade. And it reflects that the Albanese Government is working at pace in this critical endeavour. We announced this project in August and construction is already underway on the current schedule. It will be completed in 2026 and start initial rate manufacture in 2027 which will make it the first factory outside of Norway to make these incredibly advanced missiles and only the second factory in the world. Global demand for these missiles is so strong that by making them here we will get these missiles for the Australian Defence Force faster than if we relied on an overseas production line. So, faster for the ADF and hundred high-tech permanent jobs for locals. And it will open up export opportunities to our trusted partners. 

And we're delighted that Kongsberg is our strategic partner on this journey. Ensuring a defence future made in Australia, turbocharging our sovereign industrial base and providing opportunities for local Hunter businesses to contribute to the supply chain. And we've already seen examples of this such as Nupress Group in Cardiff, who have manufactured mechanical components that spawning to the Australian made naval strike missile launches. And up to $137 million dollars of the government's $850 million dollar investment will be used to qualify Australian companies to manufacture and maintain components for these missiles. This will help small and medium businesses, including businesses right here in the Hunter, to win work in the supply chain. 

Now ladies and gentlemen, this facility would not be possible without the immense talent, expertise and dedication of the workforce in the Hunter. Working together, our defence industry is delivering next-generation capabilities, creating jobs and opportunities as part of the Albanese Government's commitment to a future made in Australia and giving our defence force the capabilities it needs to keep Australians safe and secure. 

 Thank you again for everyone who's made this day possible and who will be making this extraordinary new facility a reality. Thank you very much.

ENDS