Page 2482 - Week 07 - Thursday, 3 August 2017
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One of the board’s main priorities is to provide strategic advice to government. Last month I released the ACT defence industry strategy “Established, capable, skilled”. This strategy is the product of the board’s advice to government and it will guide our efforts to grow our city’s defence industry. It is a sector-specific strategy that is consistent with our ongoing efforts to diversify the ACT economy.
It identifies key strengths of our ACT industry. These include the established defence presence in the ACT, across both government and industry; our capable businesses and institutional ecosystem; but, most importantly, our people, our high performing, skilled workforce.
With the release of the strategy we have committed to 23 distinct actions across five key priority areas. We will support Canberra region businesses to maximise opportunities from defence procurement. We will continue collaboration with other states and territories. We will attract investment to grow the defence industry in our region. We will continue to build a skilled, innovative and connective workforce. We will foster new ideas and grow research and industry partnerships.
MR STEEL: Chief Minister, what success has the board had since its establishment?
MR BARR: We are using the board’s skills to promote our defence capabilities. I made some opening remarks at last month’s Defence + Industry conference, which provided an opportunity to remind key decision-makers of the reasons to be based in Canberra. We have also used the board’s expertise to develop a joint paper with the South Australian government on the development of the space industry in Australia. The paper, which I will lead discussion on at tomorrow’s COAG Industry and Skills Council meeting, argues that the commonwealth government needs to provide clear leadership in the development of the space sector if the defence white paper’s goal of having our own intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities is to be met.
Next month the board will consider providing the government with advice on how Canberra companies can make the most of funding available through the Centre for Defence Industry Capability and, in particular, the next generation technology fund. The board will also advise government on which of the many defence events we should seek to attract to Canberra, and how to best promote our city’s defence capabilities.
Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders—bush healing farm
MR MILLIGAN: My question is to Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs. Minister, the government promised the community a new model of care for the Ngunnawal bush healing farm, consistent with the current intention of the property. What role have you played in the development of this model and when will it be published?
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