Will Hodgman,Premier & Minister for Trade
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is committed to growing Tasmania’s defence industry and pursuing opportunities across the globe to secure further investment in the sector, supporting our local businesses.
Visiting the Thales Underwater Systems facilities in France during Tasmania’s five-day trade delegation to the UK and Europe follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Thales Australia and the Australian Maritime College last month.
This is an important step towards realising Tasmania’s new Maritime Defence Innovation and Design Precinct, with Thales Australia to establish a presence at the precinct.
It is the second MoU between Thales Australia and the University, with the first agreement signed in July 2008 to establish a state-of-the-art trials and test facility for submarine and surface ship sonar systems using Tasmania’s deep, cold and acoustically quiet lakes.
Thales’ presence at the precinct will deliver a key objective of the Tasmanian Defence Strategy 2023, in securing a Defence Prime to undertake activity in Tasmania.
AMC is already recognised as a significant training, research and development partner of the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Shipbuilding College, and the agreement with Thales will open up more opportunities for the Precinct to grow and engage more Tasmanian businesses in defence supply.
