Illawarra businesses could be missing out on a share of billions of dollars on defence industry projects.
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Tony Green, executive officer with the Illawarra Innovative Industry Network (i3net), said businesses seem to rule out vying for defence projects as being too difficult.
“When I’ve spoken to businesses, they’ve always thought defence is too hard to get into,” Mr Green said.
“I think having a strategy among stakeholders working to help those businesses to break down that barrier to make it clear that there is an opportunity there.”
That strategy – the Wollongong Defence Advantage Strategy – is a joint effort from i3net and Advantage Wollongong.
Advantage Wollongong is a partnership between Wollongong City Council, University of Wollongong and the NSW Department of Industry.
One Illawarra company, Bisalloy, has regularly provided treated steel for defence projects, including the Collins subs and Bushmaster infantry vehicles.
Mr Green said the work of this company – and the presence of the steelworks – can help other businesses contribute to defence contracts.
“I think we've got as advantage in this region because we’ve got Bisalloy Steel and BlueScope in our backyard,” he said.
“These projects that require blasted steel and there’s a good chance they’ll get the steel here. If they’re going to buy the steel here then what else can you do to the steel before it goes down to Adelaide, for example?”
The amount of investment in defence spending going forward, the Illawarra’s got to get some of it.
- Robert Terpening
Mr Green said maximising the amount of fabrication work done in the Illawarra would be financially advantageous for the contracting company.
As part of the strategy, former Bisalloy managing director Robert Terpening will serve as a facilitator to help businesses meet the demands of defence.
Mr Terpening said the government was planning to spend as much as $193 billion in the coming years.
“The amount of investment in defence spending going forward, the Illawarra’s got to get some of it,” Mr Terpening said.
“There’s a fair bit going into Adelaide because of the manufacturing capabilities over there. But there are businesses in the Illawarra that can get part of that business.”