In a speech to the National Press Club, Marles revealed he is expecting the party to back the industry at the upcoming ALP National Conference in Adelaide this July.
Marles said the party’s support for the industry will be based on four pillars:
- Providing the ADF with the world’s best capability in order to keep our sailors, soldiers and aviators safe and successful on behalf of our nation;
- Providing Australia with the sovereign capability to maintain and sustain the ADF and all of its equipment;
- Building technological capability and workforce skills within Australia’s broader industrial base; and
- Enabling Australia to project its strategic weight through an exporting defence industry.
“At its best Australian industry is as capable as any in the world. If we believe we have or can develop the world’s best capability in any given area then this is reason alone for Australia to have a defence industry so that the ADF can have access to the best,” Marles said.
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