Page 108 - Australian Defence Magazine Dec19-Jan20

108 FROM THE SOURCE MELISSA PRICE
DECEMBER 2019 – JANUARY 2020 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
MELISSA PRICE
MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY
Stepping up to the plate this year in the wake of the May 2019 federal election as Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price of WA was an unknown for many in the Defence community. Since taking the job in May, she has travelled the length and breadth of the country to get across the brief literally and figuratively. She spoke with ADM Managing Editor Katherine Ziesing about what her focus points for the year that was and the year ahead.
ADM: Australian Industry Capability (AIC) has become in- creasingly important in Defence’s mega programs. What does this mean specifically for the Land 400, Hunter and Attack class programs? What assurances can you give the SME community that they will share in the value of these programs?
PRICE: AIC is a journey that I’ve been on long before I be- came the Minister for Defence Industry
and I’ve had - over the years, since be-
ing elected in 2013 – discussions with
former Defence Ministers/Defence Industry Ministers David Johnson, 2019 Christopher Pyne, Linda Reynolds and
Steve Ciobo about the number of re- 2018 gional small companies that I believed 2017 had capability but I believed we weren’t
giving them a go. Before I became the Defence Industry Minister I was very 2016 engaged, particularly around regional companies and how do we actually get
more of them through the supply chain
and not waiting for them to come and
knock on the door. 2013
I’m critical of CDIC; we’re having a 2008-2012 review at the moment. I’m critical be-
cause I think we’re waiting for people to 2002-2008 walk through the door. I want us to drag
them through the door because I believe 1997-2002 there are numerous opportunities for 1995-1996 small to medium Australian businesses
that have got transferable skillsets; they
don’t even know they’re capable. 1991-1994 This is something that I’ve been beat-
That being said, I’ve been overwhelmed by the number of companies who are already in the supply chain. Every day I’m hearing about some new fabulous small to medium Australian business that has got involved; they’ve either got an innovation contract or grant from Defence, they’ve got future prospects with Defence, or they’ve already got a contract with us.
PROFILE
Only three or four weeks ago we were talking about the latest round of Rheinmetall con- tracts; there’s around 11 new contracts that were announced from one end of Australia to the other. Some con- tracts are small as $50,000, some were $200,000. So there are opportunities there but I think our biggest challenge is making sure companies know that
Appointed Minister for Defence Industry
Minister for the Environment
Elevated to the role of Assistant Minister for the Environment
Appointed to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, Coalition Defence Policy Committee and the Defence Sub-Committee
Elected as Member for Durack Mining Executive
Lawyer/Business Development Executive
Solicitor – Private Legal Practice
Law (Post Graduate) – UWA, Perth
LLB (Hons) – Southbank University, London
they’re capable.
What people say to me is it’s not easy
doing business with Defence. I accept that but we are the client, it’s not easy but we need to help them and that’s why we’re doing a review of CDIC to make sure that those who are capable, that we’re helping them to get over that hurdle to be Defence ready.
If I look at the Hunter Class frigate and the Attack Class submarine, al- ready we’ve engaged over 2,000 local companies across the whole of Austra- lia – who are already involved in those supply chains or they’ve already been identified as having a capability.
In terms of Land 400 Phase 2, we’re on track to achieving 65 per cent AIC. I don’t think it’s a matter of ‘what’s the target?’ I believe that it’s imperative
ing the drum for some time. You won’t
be surprised, as the Minister for De-
fence Industry, that it is my number one
we support these small Australian companies, we then in- crease the number of jobs in defence industry, we can then dedicate ourselves to increasing the skillset. But if we don’t give them the opportunities then we are losing really great Australian companies who could get the opportunities to win important work.
(and I believe Rheinmetall understand) it’s not a matter of ‘well what does it say in the contract?’ They actually need Australian companies and it’s not just to build whatever their contract is with the Australian government, it’s also about their own aspirations for other export opportunities.
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priority. Because if