The Albanese Government is developing a comprehensive AUKUS Submarine Workforce and Industry Strategy to support delivery of advanced conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarines to the Australian Defence Force.
The AUKUS submarine program will be the most transformative industrial endeavour in Australian history – exceeding in scale, complexity and economic significance the creation of an Australian automotive manufacturing sector and the construction of the Snowy Scheme in the post-war decades.
Australia’s industrial base will be just the second in history to be granted access to highly sensitive US nuclear propulsion capability and afforded the ability to access, handle, build and sustain this sensitive technology.
The program will create around 20,000 direct jobs over the next 30 years across industry, the Australian Defence Force and the Australian Public Service including trades workers, operators, technicians, engineers, scientists, submariners and project managers.
At its peak, building and sustaining nuclear-powered submarines in Australia will create up to 8,500 direct jobs in the industrial workforce
With hundreds of thousands of components, nuclear-powered submarines will present a unique opportunity for Australian companies to contribute not only to the construction and sustainment of Australia’s new fleet but to the supply chains of partner nations.
Australia’s scientific, education and training institutions will also play a central role.
Australians have already commenced training and working on UK and US nuclear-powered submarines and in UK and US facilities.
Between 2027 to 2032, an additional 500 direct jobs are expected to be created to sustain the Submarine Rotational Force-West US and UK presence in Western Australia.
This will mean Australia has a trained and experienced sovereign workforce for the arrival of Australia’s Virginia class submarines from as soon as the early 2030s.
At its peak, up to an estimated 4,000 Australian workers will be employed to design and build the infrastructure for the new submarine construction yard in South Australia.
A further 4,000 to 5,500 direct jobs will be created to build the nuclear-powered submarines in South Australia when the program reaches its peak in 20 to 30 years, almost double the workforce the former Government forecast for the Attack class program.
To support delivery of the submarine program, the Government has commenced developing the AUKUS Submarine Workforce and Industry Strategy to:
This will involve working closely with state and territory governments, industry, unions, education and training institutions and the scientific and technical sectors.
We understand this is a whole of nation effort – as such, the Prime Minister will be putting this on the agenda for the next National Cabinet to ensure all jurisdictions can access the workforce and industry opportunities.
Key elements of the Strategy the Government is planning include:
The AUKUS Submarine Workforce and Industry Strategy will be finalised and implemented in consultation with our trilateral partners and state and territory governments, industry and unions.
It will complement the Albanese Government’s wider agenda to revitalise Australian manufacturing, ensuring we are a country that makes things – including identifying defence capability as a priority funding area for the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund.
Australia’s defence industry and workforce will be vital partners in the AUKUS submarine program over the next four decades and beyond – delivering a critical defence capability and supporting an industrial and skills expansion of national economic significance.
Prime Minister of Australia
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