❓ The Minister for Defence Industries outlines the government's actions to promote WA's defence sector, including the creation of IODS and attracting Land Forces to WA, highlighting the economic benefits and increased international attention.
AnsweredQoN 464Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Defence industries—Globalisation
464. Mr Mark Folkard to
the Minister for Defence Industries:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government commitment to diversify our economy and build the state's
defence sector into the second largest industry after mining.
(1) Can the minister update the house on what
actions this government is taking to create opportunities for the Western
Australian defence sector to showcase its world-class capabilities and connect
with global defence leaders?
(2) Can the minister advise how this is assisting
in strengthening our economy?
464. Mr Mark Folkard to
the Minister for Defence Industries:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government commitment to diversify our economy and build the state's
defence sector into the second largest industry after mining.
(1) Can the minister update the house on what
actions this government is taking to create opportunities for the Western
Australian defence sector to showcase its world-class capabilities and connect
with global defence leaders?
(2) Can the minister advise how this is assisting
in strengthening our economy?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for his
question and for his interest in this subject. It is a good news story for Western
Australia—the defence sector and what we have done in government to
support it and grow it, and what we are continuing to do to enhance the
opportunities for the defence sector, our SMEs, and large businesses in the
defence sector.
When we came to office, there
was no portfolio, there was no strategy, there were no people like defence
advocates or a Defence West office. There was nothing in Western Australia in
terms of a focus on promoting the opportunities in that sector, so we fixed
that way back in 2017. We did a number of things to respond immediately,
including the creation of the portfolio and other things.
One of the other things we did
in 2018, a year after getting into office, was create an exhibition and
conference event that did not exist before, which was solely focused on the
defence sector in Western Australia and elevated our local participants, with
the aim of giving them a national and an international platform. Now that event,
in 2018, was pretty small. We had a few hundred people. We had participants
from the east coast. We had defence participants. We had a few speakers from
overseas.
But that grew until, last year, it
became the Indian Ocean Defence and Security (IODS) Conference. Every two years
it happens. Last year's one was the biggest yet and a significant event. It has
carved out a niche on the national and international stage. Last year the event
drew some 4,860 attendees, and 11% of those came from overseas. There were 38
official presentations, 112 official delegations from 15 nations, 110
exhibiting organisations from 12 nations and four Chiefs of Navy. I can tell the
member that next year it is going to get bigger and better. Next year, we are
having IODS, the Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference,
from 26 to 28 May. The aim next year is to get more than 5,000 participants. We
hope to get them from all over the world, as we did last year. The aim also
is to try to step it up a notch from Chiefs of Navy. We are trying for
secretaries of defence from the US and the UK—that will be interesting!—as
well as our own participants and Chiefs of Navy and other people from other
nations. So that is happening. It is a big deal. It will be valuable. It will be
worthwhile, and I encourage all members to attend.
I can also announce that next
year we have managed to attract Land Forces. This is even bigger than IODS.
This is something that has never been on the west coast. It has always been
controlled by jurisdictions on the east coast—in Queensland or Victoria.
Next year it will be held between 7 and 9 October. As an example of what we
anticipate it should attract, last year there were 995 exhibiting companies
from 31 nations, 25,675 visitors and 240 delegations from 41 nations. There was
a bunch of conferences and symposia and other things that occurred concurrently—something
like 77 of them—and 16% of the exhibitors were international and 12% of
the overall visitor numbers came from overseas. It was a big attraction, a
valuable event, and we are getting it next year.
We will have IODS in May. Then
we will go to Land Forces in October. Followed very closely on the heels of
that will be the creation of the Submarine Rotational Force–West in Western
Australia. This place will become very much a focus not only of AUKUS; but our
international allies right around the world will be looking at what is happening
here. More people will be coming. More businesses will be coming, and there
will be more opportunities for our local businesses as a consequence and more
opportunities for our people to get employment and have multigenerational job
opportunities as a result of growing this sector. It is a big deal, and it is going
to be a fantastic year next year.
question and for his interest in this subject. It is a good news story for Western
Australia—the defence sector and what we have done in government to
support it and grow it, and what we are continuing to do to enhance the
opportunities for the defence sector, our SMEs, and large businesses in the
defence sector.
When we came to office, there
was no portfolio, there was no strategy, there were no people like defence
advocates or a Defence West office. There was nothing in Western Australia in
terms of a focus on promoting the opportunities in that sector, so we fixed
that way back in 2017. We did a number of things to respond immediately,
including the creation of the portfolio and other things.
One of the other things we did
in 2018, a year after getting into office, was create an exhibition and
conference event that did not exist before, which was solely focused on the
defence sector in Western Australia and elevated our local participants, with
the aim of giving them a national and an international platform. Now that event,
in 2018, was pretty small. We had a few hundred people. We had participants
from the east coast. We had defence participants. We had a few speakers from
overseas.
But that grew until, last year, it
became the Indian Ocean Defence and Security (IODS) Conference. Every two years
it happens. Last year's one was the biggest yet and a significant event. It has
carved out a niche on the national and international stage. Last year the event
drew some 4,860 attendees, and 11% of those came from overseas. There were 38
official presentations, 112 official delegations from 15 nations, 110
exhibiting organisations from 12 nations and four Chiefs of Navy. I can tell the
member that next year it is going to get bigger and better. Next year, we are
having IODS, the Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference,
from 26 to 28 May. The aim next year is to get more than 5,000 participants. We
hope to get them from all over the world, as we did last year. The aim also
is to try to step it up a notch from Chiefs of Navy. We are trying for
secretaries of defence from the US and the UK—that will be interesting!—as
well as our own participants and Chiefs of Navy and other people from other
nations. So that is happening. It is a big deal. It will be valuable. It will be
worthwhile, and I encourage all members to attend.
I can also announce that next
year we have managed to attract Land Forces. This is even bigger than IODS.
This is something that has never been on the west coast. It has always been
controlled by jurisdictions on the east coast—in Queensland or Victoria.
Next year it will be held between 7 and 9 October. As an example of what we
anticipate it should attract, last year there were 995 exhibiting companies
from 31 nations, 25,675 visitors and 240 delegations from 41 nations. There was
a bunch of conferences and symposia and other things that occurred concurrently—something
like 77 of them—and 16% of the exhibitors were international and 12% of
the overall visitor numbers came from overseas. It was a big attraction, a
valuable event, and we are getting it next year.
We will have IODS in May. Then
we will go to Land Forces in October. Followed very closely on the heels of
that will be the creation of the Submarine Rotational Force–West in Western
Australia. This place will become very much a focus not only of AUKUS; but our
international allies right around the world will be looking at what is happening
here. More people will be coming. More businesses will be coming, and there
will be more opportunities for our local businesses as a consequence and more
opportunities for our people to get employment and have multigenerational job
opportunities as a result of growing this sector. It is a big deal, and it is going
to be a fantastic year next year.
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