Release details
Release type
Related ministers and contacts
The Hon Christopher Pyne MP
Minister for Defence Industry
Media contact
- Pyne Media: 02 6277 7840, pynemedia@defence.gov.au
- Defence Media (02) 6127 1999, media@defence.gov.au
Release content
3 April 2017
Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, will travel to Canada and the United States from 2–7 April to meet with senior defence officials and industry representatives to highlight the continuing strength of Australia’s innovative defence industry.
The focus of the trip will be the G’Day USA United States‑Australia Dialogue on Defense Industry, which will be attended by key representatives from industry and Fortune 500 companies.
Minister Pyne, who will also deliver the keynote address at the event, said the Dialogue was an important part of Australia increasing its defence exports and growing this high end, advanced manufacturing industry.
“The Australian Government is embarking on its largest ever renewal and investment into defence capability; investing approximately $195 billion to grow our local defence capability across the decade and boost our economy,” he said.
“This will be an excellent foundation for us to growth our exports in defence industry, with close allies such as the United States a prime focus of local Australian companies.
“G’day USA has been a successful program in promoting our offerings in tourism and agriculture and we expect this to be repeated for our defence industry,” he said.
Before Washington DC the Minister will head to Ottawa to meet the Hon Harjit Singh Sajjan MP and other government representatives to discuss growing defence industry engagement between our two nations and the synergy between Australia's Future Frigate program and the Canadian surface combatant programme, particularly highlighting the world class phased array radar made by CEA (based in Canberra) and the Saab Australia 9LV combat system.
In Washington DC, Minister Pyne will also meet with senior US Defence Officials, Senior members of the US Congress as well as leading members of the US defence industry.
Minister Pyne will support 10 Australian businesses exhibiting at Sea Air Space 2017 as part of Team Defence Australia, and advocate for greater inclusion of Australian content in global supply chains during meetings with the global leaders of our world's leading defence companies.
Minister Pyne will highlight the significant contributions that Australian defence industry can make to the Australia‑United States alliance.