CCIWA has welcomed WA Labor’s commitment of $11.5 million to boost training and apprenticeships in Western Australia’s growing defence industry.
The funding will support hundreds of apprenticeship places to train the workforce that will be needed to deliver AUKUS in WA. 
These include roles such as engineering, robotics and automation, riggers and manufacturing roles, cyber security and software development.
CCIWA CEO Peter Cock said the announcement shows the WA Government has great confidence in AUKUS and its ability to deliver a jobs boom for WA.
“AUKUS will deliver high-tech and high-paid jobs of the future, creating a new pipeline of employment and helping to diversify WA’s economy,” he said. “This funding is a welcome acknowledgement of the critical importance of WA’s defence industry.”
Dr Cock said supporting businesses is critical and industry would welcome more detail on how the training grants for employers would be administered to ensure they are targeted to a jobs pipeline to give more confidence to the sector.
“It is essential to have a system in place that recognises the significant contributions employers make to workforce development and provides adequate funding to support their efforts to offer high-quality apprenticeship programs that benefit both individuals and the broader economy,” he said.
“It’s vital that this training fund is delivered in a way that makes it as easy as possible for businesses to take on apprentices in this crucial field, and we look forward to working with the Government on this issue if it is re-elected next month.
“There are a significant number of small and medium sized businesses that are interested in investing in defence work, but the barriers can be off-putting for some.
“The strength of the sector will rely on the private sector being willing to invest, and ensuring a well-trained workforce is central to that.”
‘Made in WA’ plan lacks small biz focus
The defence commitment comes after Premier Roger Cook launched the Made in WA plan, setting out WA Labor’s vision “to keep WA’s economy strong, put manufacturing back at the heart of the economy, make more things in WA and create the jobs of the future”.
He said if re-elected, a Labor Government would allocate a further $500m in the $1 billion Strategic Industries Fund to activate Strategic Industrial Areas across the State to fast-track clean energy and major industrial projects.
Dr Cock said CCIWA welcomed the focus on diversifying the economy and investing in manufacturing, “but it’s extremely disappointing to see nothing in this plan for small businesses”.
“Small and family businesses are the backbone of our economy and have barely rated a mention in the Government’s plan,” he said.
“Many small businesses in WA are doing it tough with rising labour and input costs. Reducing payroll tax for those businesses is one way the Government could help to ease that pressure.”
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