Indigenous supplier for Hunter frigate project

Highly respected Sydney Swans football star Adam Goodes is leading the first indigenous supplier contracted for the Hunter-class frigate programme’s prototyping phase.

With prototyping beginning this months, Goodes’ Indigenous Defence & Infrastructure Consortium and its consortium partner TQCSI-Yaran will supply ASC Shipbuilding, a BAE Systems subsidiary.

Indigenous Defence & Infrastructure Consortium CEO Goodes said: “We’ve been working on the programme since inception and I am delighted that the Indigenous Defence & Infrastructure Consortium has been able to facilitate this partnership with TQCSI-Yaran.”

Adelaide-based and aboriginal-owned TQCSI-Yaran will audit and undertake quality, safety, health and environmental systems certification.

TQCSI-Yaran Principal Craig Bates said the two partners had worked together for three years, providing auditing and certification of ISO management systems to companies and organisations wishing to grow their supply chain with indigenous-owned companies.

Bates said: “TQCSI-Yaran’s senior leaders have decades of naval experience and the company is looking forward to building on this contract and potentially building our participation in this world-class programme.”

Capability and Sustainment Group’s First Assistant Secretary Ships Sheryl Lutz said prototyping was vital to overall programme success.

Lutz said: “During prototyping, the processes, systems, tools, facilities and workforce competencies will be extensively tested and refined at the world-class Osborne shipyard, before construction starts on the first frigate end 2022.”

BAE Systems Australia’s Reconciliation Action Plan and strategic relationship with the consortium is opening up new opportunities for indigenous businesses.

Picture: Defence

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