#Official Defence Thread

[Wayno]

here's some info on "Australian Strategic Policy Institute" (http://www.aspi.org.au/) who were the source for the AdelaideNow article in my posting above:

Who is ASPI?
ASPI is an independent, non-partisan policy institute. It has been set up by the government to provide fresh ideas on Australia's defence and strategic policy choices.

ASPI is charged with the task of informing the public on strategic and defence issues, generating new ideas for government, and fostering strategic expertise in Australia

It aims to help Australians understand the critical strategic choices which our country will face over the coming years, and will help government make better-informed decisions.

History of ASPI
The Howard Government was keen to promote contestability in policy advice. While it already existed in many sectors, Ministers were concerned that alternative policy advice was less easily found for defence and security issues.

The Government agreed to establish a small government owned but independent and non-partisan organisation to make independent inputs into defence policy development.

In 2000 Ministers agreed that ASPI would be established as:

• * A company limited by guarantee under the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (CAC Act), wholly owned by the Commonwealth;
  * It would be funded for between .1 and $3.0 million for the first seven years of operation from within the budget of the Department of Defence;
  * It would be governed by a board of distinguished Australians;
  * It would be non-partisan with two of the board members being the personal nominees of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition;

The Secretaries of the Departments of Defence and Foreign Affairs and Trade would serve on the board ex-officio.
In mid 2001 Ministers appointed the first ASPI board (the Council).

The Prime Minister also advised that the remuneration for Directors and the CEO would be determined by the Remuneration Tribunal.

These steps were completed and ASPI was incorporated as a company on 22 August 2001.

The Council met for the first time on 29 August 2001. They considered a number of issues relating to the establishment of the Institute, how it would operate and, based on an earlier executive search, agreed to appoint Hugh White as CEO (the Director).

In considering how the Institute might operate, Ministers envisaged that:

• * The Institute would maintain a very small permanent staff, and would rely primarily on short-term contracts, secondments and similar arrangements for research work;
  * The CEO (Director) would be responsible for much of the day to day running of the Institute, and would need to be a figure of significant standing;
  * The Institute would not publish views in its own name, but provide a forum for the publication of the views of the authors of its publications;(wayno's note: so why be the source for the above AdelaideNow article?)
  * That in addition to a program of research and publication, and the provision of specific work commissioned by Government, the Institute would sponsor and organise a range of activities including lectures, seminars discussions and other events to encourage public discussion and the development of strategic policy perspectives; and
  * The Institute would build a program of visits by prominent international strategic thinkers.

While the Commonwealth provides the majority of our funding, since 2004 the Institute has endeavoured to develop new funding streams to enable ASPI to sustain and develop its program of work. Sources of additional funding include:

• * Income earned for commissioned research projects;
  * sponsorship of major events;
  * and by accepting limited advertising in the Australian Defence Almanac;
  * attendance fees at public events; and
  * a membership scheme.

[Pistol]

Not much fanfare over this decision which makes me wonder whether this is just the Tiser doing what it does best...
Especially considering this is a much bigger contract than the current AWD contract. Funny that it says Adelaide will build the subs but no mention at all of ASC.

There was the decision earlier in the week saying that the 4th AWD was going to be mothballed - that was the bridge between the AWD contract and the new sub contract. Logistics issues in itself.
The AWD contract has required the employment of many specialised people however there will be a 2-5 year gap between the end of the AWD contract and the beginning of the new sub contract. What do you do with all those people?

[joshzxzx]

BRING IT ON...

Awesome news... I am just looking forward to some of the benefits that this will povide for the state...
It is thinkg like this that will ultematly help increase demand for office space and yes higher CBD buildings...

[SRW]

It's not really news. We've know for a long while that Adelaide would build the next generation subs...

[Wayno]

It's not really news. We've know for a long while that Adelaide would build the next generation subs...

yeah but, why mention it now? a filler article by AdelaideNow, or perhaps a significant agreement milestone has been achieved? it's also kinda wierd that Rann wasn't the bearer of the news? maybe he'll pop up on on TV tonight at 6pm...

[ghs]

It's not really news. We've know for a long while that Adelaide would build the next generation subs...

Exactly right SRW. I used to work for ASC. New submarines have been in discussion for a few years now due to the Collins
class subs getting older. With all the infrastructure, technology and skills that they have at Outer Harbour, the only option for the Commonwealth is to build them here in Adelaide.

[mattblack]

ASC congratulates SA Government on completion of CUF milestones
8 April 2009



Leading Australian naval defence company ASC has congratulated the South Australian Government on the completion of key milestones for the Techport Australia Common User Facility (CUF) at Osborne, South Australia.

South Australian Premier Mike Rann earlier today announced that work associated with the CUF is now more than 80% complete, with practical completion achieved on the wharf, dry berth and transfer system.

ASC Managing Director Greg Tunny said the CUF development, part of the SA Government’s $300 million investment in the Techport Australia precinct at Osborne, was important for ASC’s role as shipbuilder in the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) Program.

“We congratulate the South Australian Government and Defence SA for the work they have completed on the CUF, on schedule and on budget,” Mr Tunny said.

“The Government’s contribution to our bid for the AWD contract in 2005 was an important component for us being successful.

“We are also investing approximately $100 million to upgrade our shipyard, immediately adjacent to the CUF, and our upgrade is on budget and on schedule to be completed by the last quarter of 2009.

“Together these two facilities form one of the most modern naval shipbuilding precincts anywhere in the world, and we thank the South Australian Government for its ongoing commitment to support not only the AWD Program, but also the State’s broader defence industry.”

[Wayno]

Lots and lots of Subs

Doubling the number of Subs will be of immense benefit to SA!

We should also expect to soon hear plans for Adelaide's Keswick, Warradale and Woodside barracks. I'm betting on a consolidation...

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 01,00.html

SOUTH Australia is well positioned to win the lion's share of a predicted naval ship-building boom over the next 40 years.

The Federal Government is preparing to unveil its long-awaited Defence White Paper, outlining the future direction of defence policy and laying out tens of billions of dollars in high-tech defence acquisitions.

Defence analysts expect the White Paper, which could be released as early as today, to set out plans not only to replace the six Collins-class submarines, but also a virtual doubling of the underwater fleet once the first new subs enter service after 2020.

A move to bigger surface ships is also on the cards, according to sources.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, when in opposition, committed to build the next generation of submarines in Adelaide.

But the likelihood that the size of the submarine fleet will be doubled is a potential boon for the state. Members of Canberra's defence community also expect the White Paper to call for a new class of larger "destroyer class" surface ships capable of much greater flexibility than the smaller frigate-sized vessels currently used.

Australia Defence Association executive director Neil James said the widely expected move to use some larger ships with greater "sea-keeping" abilities made good sense.

He said that would be a change from the Hawke and Keating governments' thinking which had "saddled the navy with ships that are too small".

"Bigger ships aren't that more expensive to build and operate but they're much more capable," Mr James said.

Construction of the new ships would represent billions of dollars in extra contracts and could be split between shipyards in SA and Victoria.

The White Paper, the first such document since 2000, may also set the future for some of the smaller military bases like Adelaide's Keswick, Warradale and Woodside barracks.

[Wayno]

SA to get 750 more Defence jobs...

and the final sentence in the article below also sounds promising!

from ABC online:

SA to get 750 defence-industry jobs

SA Premier Mike Rann says Lockheed Martin plans to work on air-warfare destroyers in the state.

The South Australian Government says US-based Lockheed Martin plans to expand its operations in the state, creating hundreds of new jobs.

The company will quadraple its South Australian workforce during the next 8 years, from 250 to about 1,000.

Premier Mike Rann says the technology company is working on a range of projects, including the air-warfare destroyers.

"They intend to double their South Australian work force within 3 years and double it again within 5 years after that," he said.

Meanwhile the State Government is pushing for Port Adelaide's ship building facilities to become a repair base for US warships.

[Shuz]

SA confidence surges with defence boom

KIM WHEATLEY, GREG KELTON
August 28, 2009 12:01am
KEY companies are lining up to join South Australia's defence industry as an employment surge signals the start of an anticipated boom.

It coincides with a dramatic rebound in consumer confidence, according to BankSA's State Monitor, which yesterday revealed strong optimism about the economy and job prospects.

Defence giant Lockheed Martin has told the State Government it plans a fourfold increase in its Australian workforce within five years, to more than 1000 – and there is a strong likelihood it will establish its headquarters in Adelaide.

The Government also is negotiating with a British-based cyber technology firm which is considering SA as its new Australian base, potentially creating more than 100 hi-tech jobs.

In the past three months, jobs related to the $8 billion Air Warfare Destroyer contract have jumped from 500 positions to almost 750.

Work on the first section of the hull begins in November and by 2013 it is expected the project will employ 2000 people directly.

SA has secured seven projects – including the 12 next-generation submarines costing $30 billion – predicted to almost double the number of defence jobs to 28,000 by 2013.

Premier Mike Rann told The Advertiser details of his defence-based talks in Washington and London as part of his 16-day overseas trade mission.

"The Government has set about making SA the defence capital of the nation," he said. "Lockheed in Washington, who currently employ about 260 people in SA, told me that SA is now a main part of their operations."

Mr Rann said the Government was trying to convince Lockheed Martin to establish a headquarters at the new Techport site at Osborne.

He said SA was in a very competitive market and faced stiff competition from other states for hi-tech defence work.

"We have gone from $14 billion worth of projects to more than $40 billion projects over a 25-year period," Mr Rann said.

"We are now very much on their (defence companies') radar."

The Federal Government decided to share work on the destroyer contract around Australia, but the majority is being done in SA.

AWD Alliance chief executive John Gallacher said jobs were continually building up to the peak of 2000.

"There's about $450 million in the process of being invested in the shipyard – and that's already created between 500 or 600 construction jobs just in establishing new facilities," he said. "We've been building up our own team – that's created jobs."

The project also is employing Spanish, U.S. and UK specialists.

"They give the project quite an interesting flavour because it gives you that international feel, but the majority of the jobs have been recruited from South Australians," Mr Gallacher said.

The jump in optimism recorded in the BankSA consumer confidence survey is the largest single increase in its 12-year history. It also signals the highest level of consumer confidence in a decade.

Business confidence also has risen sharply from February's record lows to levels not seen since the boom years of 2003 to 2005.

BankSA managing director Rob Chapman said consumers were much more optimistic about their employment prospects and the economy in general.

"It is promising for the state as it represents a strong platform for future sales growth and labour demand," he said.

Earlier in the week, Mr Rann told about 400 SA expatriates at a reception at Australia House in London they should consider returning home for work, because the state was doing much better than most coming out of the global financial crisis.

He said the growth in defence and mining interests in SA meant those companies would need accountants, lawyers, IT specialists and other hi-tech workers.

[Wayno]

SA confidence surges with defence boom

While this article is factual (and great news), i almost feel its timing is a simple response to the Victorian news article stating their economy about to go gangbusters. Maybe i'm wrong...

Boom state on the up and up: http://www.sensational-adelaide.com/for ... =18&t=2569

[fabricator]

Before these new subs are built, can we please teach the locals how to weld properly ?
Most of the faults with the Collins Class subs were traced to faulty welds.

[Pistol]

The new subs will actually be a contract closer to $40 billion if not in excess. I am really surprised that there wasn't more fanfare over the announcement that they are going to be built in Adelaide. This will be of immense benefit to the state.

[ghs]

I think the reason why there wasn't so much fanfare over the new subs announcement is that it has
been known for a while that the new subs have to be built here in Adelaide, so it not anything new.

[fabricator]

Or they don't want to admit the old ones are no "so and so" good.