Federal election 2022: Scott Morrison says more training and jobs for defence industry workers if re-elected

Scott Morrison has said a re-elected Coalition Government would see a significant investment into the defence industry workforce as Australia’s defence capabilities scale up. The Prime Minister has said he would put $108.5 million into a new defence industry pathways program as part of the Government’s $270 billion defence investment through to 2030. The program is an expansion of a pilot in Henderson to 14 regions across Australia and is set to upskill an extra 1500 workers for defence industry jobs with a nationally accredited Certificate III in Defence Industry Pathways. Perth and surrounds would see training for maritime, explosive ordnance, and aerospace industry jobs. “Our investment in building the capabilities of Australia’s defence force is about keeping our country strong and secure and backing local skills and jobs,” Mr Morrison said. “Australia has a record 220,000 people in trades training, but as our defence investments grow, so does the demand for skilled Australians to move into the industry.” The Prime Minister also said having a pipeline of skilled workers would ensure a stronger future for the defence industry. Minister for the Defence Industry Melissa Price said the new program would help meet the demands of a rapidly growing industry. “This is taking a pilot at Henderson in WA and exporting it right across the country so more people get the skills they need for the jobs our Government is helping to create,” Ms Price said. “More than 50 defence industry businesses have registered to host and mentor the 120 trainees already participating at Henderson, and with more investment in defence industry there’s huge demand for the skills this program will deliver.” The Government said it would work closely with the defence industry and training organisations to roll out the program. The Morrison Government is highlighting its massive investment in defence in the lead-up to the Federal election but is facing considerable heat from the public and the media over its handling of the Solomon Islands’ deal with China. Defence Minister Peter Dutton was asked on Thursday at the National Press Club if Australia was less safe today because of the freshly inked security deal between the two countries, which could allow a Chinese military presence in the Pacific. Mr Dutton didn’t answer the question directly, instead saying China’s expanding global influence was “phenomenal” and Australia was doing its best to maintain peace in the Pacific. “I don’t think we should pretend to the Australian people that we don’t live in an uncertain time,” he said. “As we’re seeing right across the region, in fact right across the world, China’s influence into Africa, their influence into broader Asia, their influence into even Europe is quite phenomenal.” Labor has criticised the Federal Government’s move to send Pacific Minister Zed Seselja to Honiara instead of Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne to try convince the Solomon Islands government to ditch the security pact with China.