Rebuilding Sovereign Capabilities in Australia’s Defence Industry

Australia’s defence manufacturing capability needs to be strengthened. Renewed geopolitical tensions in the Asia-Pacific and Europe, accelerating climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the fault lines of fragile global supply chains. These crises have demonstrated the urgent need for Australia to build and maintain sovereign capability in defence and in our manufacturing industries more broadly.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) has a proud history of supporting Australia’s defence forces through the production, maintenance, and repair of defence equipment. Our highly skilled members build and maintain ships and submarines, helicopters and other aircraft, munitions, and vehicles. Australian innovations like the Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle not only serve our own military but are exported to other armed forces around the world.