South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas, is set to lead a high-level mission to the United States in what he says is a bid to maximise the state’s opportunities from the AUKUS submarine program.
It will be the first official visit by the Premier to the United States.
His trip in mid-May will include high-level meetings with leading figures in the US defence program and submarine supply chain and visits to the two shipyards, including the Newport News shipyard in Virginia, where Virginia Class nuclear-powered submarines are built.
The Newport facility employs more than 25,000 workers, making it the largest shipbuilding company in the US
“As the home of the AUKUS submarine program, it is vital that South Australia forges even stronger ties with our partners in the United Kingdom and the United States for the long term,” the Premier said.
“AUKUS is a once-in-a-generation moment for South Australia, and I am determined to ensure we maximise every single opportunity.
The Premier said the scale of the submarine project was “astonishing”.
“This will be the biggest project our state has ever seen, building the most complex machines on earth,” he said.
“I want the key industry leaders and decision-makers in the United States to be clear that South Australia is serious about maximising every available opportunity out of this program – and we are committed for the long term.”
The Premier will also visit General Dynamics Electric Boat’s submarine shipyard in Groton, Connecticut, which also builds Virginia Class nuclear-powered submarines and employs about 10,000 people on site.
He said a key focus will be the skills, training and workforce development in the United States for its nuclear submarine program, and ensuring South Australia is best placed to develop the highly skilled workforce required for AUKUS.
“It is important we do the hard work now to ensure we have the highly skilled workforce we will need in South Australia for decades to come.”
“I am looking forward to seeing for myself the shipyards where nuclear-powered submarines are being built right now in the United States. In just a few years’ time, the same will be happening right here in South Australia.”
The trip will also include a series of high-level meetings with key leaders and decision-makers in Washington DC, including key congressional representatives.
Last month, it was announced Adelaide-based shipbuilders ASC and BAE Systems will build Australia’s SSN-AUKUS submarines at Osborne.
Construction is set to begin on the first SSN-AUKUS submarine by the end of the decade. Between 4,000 and 5,500 direct jobs are expected to support the building of AUKUS submarines when the program reaches its peak.
Already 26 Australian suppliers are being supported to qualify their products in the US submarine supply chain as part of the AUKUS program.
The Premier will also meet with the new Governor of Maryland Wes Moore to build on the relationship and collaboration between South Australia and Maryland.
