By Abbas Nazil
The Australian government has announced a comprehensive 30-year plan to bolster the maritime capabilities of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) through the 2024 Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Plan.
This initiative outlines a significant investment of $123-$159 billion aimed at delivering advanced naval capabilities while strengthening the nation’s maritime industrial base.
The ambitious program includes the construction of conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarines, enhanced lethality surface combatants, minor war vessels, and Army landing craft, contributing to a total of 55 new vessels.
This marks a considerable expansion from previous plans under the former Coalition government. The shipbuilding and sustainment activities will primarily take place in South Australia and Western Australia, ensuring a steady pipeline of projects for decades to come.
The government emphasized the importance of continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment (CNSS) as a cornerstone for evolving the maritime industrial base.
A new CNSS Enterprise governance framework has been introduced to foster collaboration across federal, state, and territory governments, industry stakeholders, academia, and trade unions.
This framework is designed to ensure the coordinated growth of Australia’s shipbuilding capacity, providing the ADF with the resources needed to safeguard national interests.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles highlighted the plan’s potential to generate significant workforce growth, with approximately 8,500 jobs expected in naval shipbuilding and sustainment by 2030 and up to 20,000 jobs over the next three decades to support the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Program.
The government is taking decisive action to meet this demand by investing $1.5 billion to fund 500,000 Free TAFE and vocational education training places, along with $250 million to attract, train, and retain the nuclear-powered submarine workforce.
This funding will support 4,000 Commonwealth-supported STEM university places across the nation.
In collaboration with the South Australian Government, detailed workforce and skills action plans are being implemented, supported by the newly established Maritime Workforce and Skills Council.
This council will oversee the coordinated workforce expansion, ensuring alignment with federal, state, and industry objectives.
Significant infrastructure upgrades are also being progressed, including multi-billion-dollar developments at the Defence Precinct in Henderson, Western Australia, and the Submarine Construction Yard at Osborne, South Australia.
These enhancements aim to modernize the maritime industrial base and ensure readiness for the new capabilities outlined in the plan.
The government plans to update the Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Plan every two years to adapt to the evolving strategic environment.
The next iteration is scheduled for release in 2026, reaffirming the long-term commitment to advancing Australia’s maritime defense capabilities.
Source: DCN