Australia Fortifies Resilient Submarine Industry Base
The Albanese Government is making it easier for Australian industry to tap into a multi‑billion dollar, multi-decade opportunity in support of AUKUS and Australia’s submarine industrial base as we build, operate and maintain our future conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.
The Government has today launched Australia’s AUKUS Submarine Industry Strategy, providing greater clarity to industry to grow and enter AUKUS supply chains. The Strategy outlines the prioritisation framework that will give businesses in Australia the confidence to invest in their own technical capabilities, personnel and facilities.
The Strategy is underpinned by the Albanese Government’s investment of $262 million to support local defence industry uplift as part of Australia’s AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine program announced earlier this year.
AUKUS will create around 20,000 direct jobs over the next 30 years across industry and government, including:
The Strategy sets out five critical lines of effort to boost Australian industry uplift:
The Albanese Government is committed to growing the capabilities, capacity and resilience of businesses – particularly small and medium-sized enterprises – across Australia.
Australia’s AUKUS Submarine Industry Strategy lays the foundation to support, guide and grow initiatives like these, in consultation with industry, unions and academia, and between Australia and our AUKUS partners. The Strategy will evolve as our industry develops and Australia’s nuclear‑powered submarine program progresses.
This will be one of the most complex and consequential industrial transformations in Australian history, and is part of the broader uplift of the sovereign maritime industrial base detailed in the 2024 Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Plan.
This is an opportunity to build a future made in Australia, by Australians, delivering world‑leading maritime capability, advanced manufacturing, industry growth, well-paid and highly skilled jobs, and infrastructure for decades to come.
Australia’s AUKUS Submarine Industry Strategy can be found here.
Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP:
“Australian industry will be at the forefront of our conventionally armed, nuclear‑powered submarine program – helping to build, operate and maintain this crucial capability.
“Australia’s AUKUS Submarine Industry Strategy sets out how the Albanese Government will continue to implement initiatives and programs to support, guide and grow priority industry sectors, alongside our AUKUS partners.
“Our work does not stop here. As a multi-decade, multi-generational undertaking which will create around 20,000 jobs across the country, the Strategy will continue to evolve in line with industry and capability requirements as the AUKUS pathway progresses.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, the Hon Pat Conroy:
“The opportunities presented for Australian industry through our nuclear-powered submarine program are immense, and the Strategy further explains the Australian Government’s commitment to create the opportunities for industry and to support them in accessing them.
“The conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine program will see around 20,000 jobs created across Australia over the next 30 years, with unprecedented opportunities for Australian industry as we develop the sovereign capacity to operate, build and sustain conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines here in Australia.
“Australian industry has incredible access to new and unique opportunities beyond our own submarines, now being able to be work with our AUKUS partners and contribute to the sustainment and build of their submarines as we develop a strong, resilient trilateral submarine industrial base.
“This is our greatest ever industrial undertaking and this strategy will underpin our success.”
https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2025-03-05/building-strong-and-resilient-industrial-base-australias-submarines