Maryborough company working with Morrison Government to develop defence industry

A local company has won a grant from the Federal Liberal and Nationals Government worth more than three quarters of a million dollars to improve its capacity to contribute to the nation’s sovereign defence industry.

Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien congratulated Global Manufacturing Group on its $785,150 grant under the Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority grants program.
 
Mr O’Brien said Global Manufacturing Group would use the grant to purchase equipment and software to improve manufacturing, design and security capabilities.
 
“This state-of-the-art equipment will put Global Manufacturing Group on the world stage in terms of design and manufacturing skills, and it secures more than 100 jobs in Queensland including 58 in Maryborough,” Mr O’Brien said.
 
“It’s great to see a local Wide Bay company contributing to Australia’s defence industry, and developing our sovereign capability.”
 
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack toured the company’s Maryborough office today.
 
“This important grants program reflects the Liberal and Nationals Government’s commitment to grow robust and resilient small and medium-sized businesses capable of providing a significant contribution to Sovereign Industrial Capability Priorities,” Mr McCormack said.
 
Global Manufacturing Group director Phil Dowling said the company supplied parts for Rheinmetall’s Boxer armoured vehicles, and the grant would allow them to enhance their supply chain capabilities in that project as well as investigating new markets.

“This technological upgrade means we will have world-leading capabilities – we will be quicker, smarter and more energy efficient, which will allow us to pursue further growth opportunities,” Mr Dowling said.
 
Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Melissa Price MP, said the Morrison Government was focused on providing more support to small businesses wanting to be part of the record build-up of our defence industry.
 
“If we want a stronger defence industrial base, we need to maximise the involvement and success of Australian small businesses,” Minister Price said.
 
“Our success in the Australian defence industry is the result of these businesses taking every opportunity to have a go and build the skills needed to deliver defence capability.”
 
The next round of the Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority grants close on 1 October 2019. Applications can be submitted through the Centre for Defence Industry Capability website at www.business.gov.au/cdic