Defence industry advisory council meets to boost capabilities
SKILLING Queenslanders to help boost the state’s defence capabilities is the key focus of a new group that met for the first time in Townsville on Monday.
The Deputy Premier’s Advisory Council on Defence Industry and Jobs has met for the first time, with an aim of boosting the state’s defence capabilities.
The advisory council was supportive of the Queensland Defence,
Maritime, Aerospace and Space Industry Skills Plan.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said Queensland’s defence capabilities were world class and a highly skilled workforce was essential for future growth.
“The Palaszczuk government is firmly focused on Queensland’s future and has dedicated $3.34bn through the Queensland Jobs Fund to support job-creating industries,” Mr Miles said.
“We want to ensure there is a pipeline of Queenslanders ready to enter a workforce that will underpin a multibillion-dollar industry and add to our sovereign industrial capability.”
The plan outlines three focus areas – engage and attract; train and retain; and collaborate – with actions that will promote career opportunities, upskill current workers and collaboration with industry to ensure the future supply of a skilled workforce.
Mr Miles said that the council would help the government leverage the state’s defence capabilities. Advisory council member Dr Karen Stanton from Heat Treatment Australia said the skills plan showed the government was committed to growing the defence industry sector in the state.
“This council’s job is to provide advice that can develop and attract investment into Queensland’s defence industry and the reality is, as these sectors grow, there will be a need for a strong workforce to support them,” Dr Stanton said.