Indigenous company to reap benefits of NSW missile assembly project

• Joint media release: Melissa McIntosh MP, Member for Lindsay

An Indigenous construction company has been awarded the head contract to build a $23.9 million assembly and maintenance facility in NSW for one of Australia’s most successful defence exports.

In a major jobs boost, National Aboriginal Construction Partners (NACP) Projects is expected to employ around 200 workers during construction of the Nulka Missile Assembly and Maintenance facilities, at the Defence Establishment Orchard Hills.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the Morrison Government’s contract with NACP would provide a major boost for the Indigenous business and the Western Sydney community.

“This contract exemplifies our strong commitment to the Closing the Gap initiative by providing dedicated opportunities for Indigenous companies,” Minister Price said.

“The construction workforce will be about 50 to 80 workers on-site every day, with an estimated 200 workers being involved on the project over the 10-month construction period.

“NACP Projects is committed to achieving 95 per cent local industry participation for the supply of goods and services for the project”.

Minister Price said the project would support the production, maintenance, sustainment and export of the Nulka decoy missile system.

“The Nulka decoy missile is the world’s most sophisticated electronic defence system for the protection of warships against anti-ship missiles,” Minister Price said.  

“The system is currently deployed on more than 150 Australian, US and Canadian warships, making it one of Australia’s most successful export stories.”

“The project will provide administration, assembly, maintenance and storage facilities to support the Nulka decoy missile.”

‘Nulka’ is of Australian Aboriginal origin, meaning ‘be quick’.

Member for Lindsay Melissa McIntosh said it highlighted the significant connection between the project, local indigenous companies and the delivery of defence capability.

“Backing our national defence industry creates and sustains more local jobs, and secures our sovereign capability,” Ms McIntosh said.

“From the construction phase through to the long-term support of the Nulka missile assembly and maintenance, this project demonstrates Western Sydney’s potential to be deeply integrated into our defence industry and support a wide range of local jobs.”

NACP Projects was procured under the Morrison Government’s Indigenous Procurement Policy to support indigenous entrepreneurship and business development.

Work on the project will start in April and is expected to finish in early 2022.

Additional information is available at Closing the Gap and Indigenous Procurement Policy.