Austal welcomes today’s announcement by the Australian Government and the commitment it demonstrates to the Australian shipbuilding industry.
Austal Chief Executive Officer Andrew Bellamy said the large Government investment in naval shipbuilding and a shift to a continuous build model from the previous project-based model was a truly transformative change.
“A continuous build program will preserve important skills and capability in the Australian workforce and drive productivity improvements which are essential to maximise taxpayer value, ensure Australia’s shipbuilding industry is internationally competitive, and lay the pathway to expanding naval exports from Australia,” Mr Bellamy said.
Austal also welcomes the announcement of a competitive evaluation process for the future surface combatant programs. A competitive process will drive the right balance between economics and Australia’s defence force capability, and Austal looks forward to participating in that process for both Frigates and Offshore Patrol Vessels. While Adelaide, given its existing infrastructure, is the logical choice for assembly of the Future Frigate, the facilities and workforce in Western Australia are similarly well positioned to deliver Offshore Patrol Vessels.
“There are great opportunities in both the Future Frigate and the Offshore Patrol Vessel programs for Australian shipbuilders, including here in Western Australia where the local industry has built all of the Commonwealth’s Patrol Boats for the past 17 years as well as supporting major upgrades to the Anzac Frigates and sustainment of the Collins Submarines,” Mr Bellamy said.
“Austal’s Henderson yard has already proven that Australian shipbuilding can be internationally competitive as we continue to export Naval ships, and that is why we welcome this vote of confidence in the domestic industry that the Government has made today.”
Austal also welcomes further reform of ASC. ASC has some of the world’s best infrastructure which is matched by the skills and capabilities of its workforce.
However, it has long been Austal’s position that Governments should not operate shipyards and this development removes the unnecessary complication of being both customer and shipbuilder. Austal will consider any future opportunities today’s announcement of further reform of ASC may provide to the Company into the future.
“Austal is the only Australian-owned, ASX-listed, international defence prime contractor and we remain committed to playing a leading role in the future of Australian shipbuilding,” Mr Bellamy said.