Keogh outlines support for innovation, defence industry

Veterans Affairs and Defence Personnel minister Matt Keogh has outlined the federal government’s approach to making science, technology, innovation and industry capability central to defending Australia in a major speech in Perth.

Speaking at the 2022 Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference today, Keogh said the new government saw defence industry as a priority, and was focusing on strengthening sovereign capabilities, bolstering the manufacturing base and creating new local jobs.

Keogh said: “Our plan to achieve these objectives will be outlined in a new Defence Industry Development Strategy.

“The Strategy will articulate the strategic rationale underpinning Australia’s defence industry.

“It will set out the framework, direction and principles underpinning the direction of defence industry policy and initiatives for the foreseeable future, and it will chart a path to a strong, sovereign and sustainable Australian defence industry.”

Central to this vision will be the government’s commitment to establish the Australian Strategic Research Agency – an Australian version of the United States DARPA agency – combined with the AUKUS collaborations.

“The government has established the Defence Strategic Review, and appointed two independent Western Australians’ leads to conduct it: former Minister for Defence, Professor Stephen Smith, and the former Chief of the Defence Force, Sir Angus Houston.

“The Defence Strategic Review will consider the priority of investment in defence capabilities and assess the Australian Defence Force’s structure, posture and preparedness in order to optimise defence capability and posture to meet the nation’s security challenges.”

Keogh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to spending at least two per cent of GDP on defence, including to enhance the Australian Defence Force with capabilities like long-range and precision strike weapons, offensive and defensive cyber, and area denial systems.

“As we did in opposition, in Government we have committed to Aukus.

“Aukus will deliver nuclear powered submarines for Australia, and it will guide accelerated development of advanced defence capabilities, notably in relation to quantum technology, artificial intelligence, undersea warfare, hypersonics and counter hypersonics, advanced cyber and electronic warfare.”

Picture: Matt Keogh

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