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The NSW Government has reiterated its support for the Hunter region’s thriving defence industry, as the Hunter Defence Conference kicks off, bringing together prime contractors, businesses, defence researchers and training institutions to drive collaboration for the future of the industry.
The Hunter Defence Conference 2021 shines a spotlight on defence industry skilling and workforce readiness, defence capability development, supply chain and contract opportunities for small and medium enterprises and driving collaboration across the breadth of the defence industry.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said NSW had more skilled people than any other state to meet the requirements of the defence industry over the next decade.
“This is no more apparent than in the Hunter region, where collaboration between defence Prime contractors such as Lockheed Martin Australia, BAE Systems Australia and Boeing Defence Australia, along with local companies and education providers is driving a pipeline of the defence industry workforce of the future”.
“The defence sector contributes $944 million to the Hunter region and the NSW economy and the NSW Government is committed to seeing significant growth to support more local jobs.
“Investment NSW is now open for business to attract investment and propel job creation by growing industries like defence. With a concierge for businesses and investors to navigate options to partner with the NSW government, we are excited to be able to drive more jobs for NSW, commercialise ideas, and connect our businesses to global markets.”
The Hunter-based Nupress Group has been supplying precision manufactured components in the Aerospace and Defence sectors for over ten years, including the Joint Strike Fighter global supply chain where Nupress Group supplies parts for the engine.
Nupress Group CEO Craig McWilliam said Nupress has been part of the Hunter manufacturing sector since 1971.
“We undertook our transition into the defence sector and were motivated to elevate the supply chain as part of our journey. The Hunter is full of very smart and efficient businesses and we are excited to be part of this region’s defence industry opportunities,” Mr McWilliam said.
“We understand that no one can do it alone in the defence industry. We’ve always tried to elevate and support our supply chain in the same way that the large defence companies have supported us.”
The NSW Government, through Investment NSW, is focussed on growing the entirety of defence industry across NSW and that will enhance our contribution to National security interests.
“I can’t wait to see the future expansion that comes – we are all striving for jobs and innovation which is exactly what our defence industry is all about,” Mr Ayres said.
Further details about Defence NSW are available at www.defence.nsw.gov.au.

The NSW Government today announced the Upper Hunter will cement itself as the equine capital of the nation with the former TAFE site at 2 Flemington Drive to become a world-class equine training centre delivered by Racing NSW.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said Racing NSW will develop a state-of-the-art equine industry training academy that will significantly expand its current use as an educational facility.
“The development of this equine training centre will see the Upper Hunter community have access to the very best of what the thoroughbred racing industry has to offer,” Mr Barilaro said.
“The thoroughbred racing industry generates a $3.6 billion economic benefit to NSW and sustains 27,600 full time equivalent jobs across the state so this is a major boost for local employment now, and for generations to come.
“The Upper Hunter will have the best of both worlds, with a world-class equine training centre in Scone and state-of-the-art learning facilities including the Connected Learning Centre in Scone and the Muswellbrook TAFE.”
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said Racing NSW’s investment in the Flemington Drive site will elevate equine training to a world-class standard.
“The community and local industry will benefit from specialised equine courses delivered by Racing NSW for local jobs such as stablehands, trainers, trackwork riders and jockeys,” Mr Lee said.
“It is the NSW Government’s priority to deliver the training industry demands and who better to lead the charge than the nation’s leading thoroughbred racing body.”
Racing NSW Chief Executive Peter V’landys said Racing NSW will offer extensive courses for the thoroughbred racing industry and other trades.
“We’re committed to working with TAFE NSW and the local community to ensure the training needs of the local community are being met for all trades,” Mr V’landys said.
TAFE NSW will lease back parts of the site for up to three years at nil cost and has committed to the continued delivery of equine training in the Scone community beyond 2024, as required.

The NSW Government is investing an additional $20 million into the CBD Revitalisation strategy to help stimulate Sydney’s CBD economy and boost jobs.
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet announced the funding following a second Sydney CBD Summit of business, community, government and industry leaders held today at the Museum of Contemporary Art.
“We need to continue to drive growth in Australia’s global city as we emerge from the pandemic, and today a diverse mix of people came together in Australia’s global city to help make this happen,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The Government will allocate an additional $20 million which will be used to help our city grow. We want more people back in the city, whether that’s working or shopping or coming in for entertainment and dining.”
The new funding brings the total CBD revitalisation investment to more than $40 million, including $5 million from the City of Sydney.
Minister for Small Business Damien Tudehope said the first Sydney CBD Summit supported initiatives such as increased public transport, flexible outdoor dining arrangements, and programs to attract people into the CBD.
“Since the first Summit, we’ve gone on to launch Dine & Discover, as well as new Sydney CBD accommodation vouchers which will be available later this year and we’ll consider other opportunities as they arise,” Mr  Tudehope said.
“However, commercial occupancy rates in Sydney remain around 50 per cent due to continuing flexible working, well down from the pre-pandemic rate of about 90 per cent.
“When people return to the office, they support small businesses and local jobs by buying lunch, shopping in store rather than online, and going out to visit cultural institutions as they stay open after dark.”
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the September summit saw changes to how spaces were used in the city, such as enabling businesses to operate with more outdoor seating and dining areas, and flexibility remained key to the city’s revival.
“We need to accept that the CBD post-pandemic will look and operate differently than it did before COVID-19 hit us and that’s why it’s important we have events like today’s summit to hear a range of perspectives on emerging issues,” Mr Stokes said.
“Sydney is our global city and we’ve got to do what we can to propel its growth and ensure we’re maximising business and cultural opportunities into the future.”
Minister for Tourism and Jobs Stuart Ayres said the CBD remained impacted by the halt on international travel, which supported businesses and jobs.
“International travellers to Sydney contributed more than $1 billion to the economy over the summer of 2020 and the city is still grappling with that loss, despite improvements on the domestic tourism front,” Mr Ayres said.
“The CBD needs to mature from being a place we go to work into a 24-hour destination with a diverse range of experiences.”
City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said she welcomed the CBD Summit to help unlock further potential and build upon learnings from revitalisation programs like Sunset Piazza, Culture Up Late and Al Fresco dining.
“Last September’s summit led to initiatives that put us on the path of recovery, by making outdoor dining easier, supporting live entertainment and creating our fabulous Summer Piazza at Cathedral Square,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We have helped breathe life back into the city centre and it is vital we continue our support of businesses and jobs through creative programs.”

The NSW Government has today announced jobseekers across the state will have access to free hospitality training to address growing skills shortages in the regional hospitality industry.
A partnership between the NSW Government and Clubs NSW will be piloted in clubs across the Upper Hunter, giving unemployed locals an opportunity to reskill for a job in a club.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said COVID-19 had intensified an already-acute skills shortage for jobs, with local unemployment and a lack of overseas workers such as chefs, bar attendants and kitchenhands.
“The NSW Government is committed to working with the hospitality industry to get local people back in work and plug these skills gaps by providing hands-on experience in clubs across the state,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Right here in the Upper Hunter, Singleton Diggers, Muswellbrook RSL, Singleton Bowlo and Scone RSL will be among the first in the state to take advantage of the free training and equip locals with specialised skills delivered by TAFE NSW.
“Following the pilot in the Upper Hunter, the program will be rolled out to regional areas across the state, making it easier for jobseekers to find jobs in the future, keeping money in the local economy.”
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the partnership with Clubs NSW will not only help train locals but match them to hospitality jobs.
“This customised training employment program will deliver much-needed skills relief for clubs and regional economies, ensuring local jobs are filled by local workers,” Mr Lee said.
“Clubs play an important role in regional communities so it’s fitting they will also become a training ground for registered training organisations to deliver industry-relevant, hands-on skills and mentoring right here in their local club or at their local TAFE NSW.”
Clubs NSW Chief Executive Josh Landis said Clubs NSW welcomed the partnership with the NSW Government to create jobs in regional areas.
“Registered clubs employ more than 43,000 people across the state and are often the largest employer in regional communities, providing an opportunity for country residents to live and work in the towns they grew up in,” Mr Landis said.
The fee-free training will be funded by the NSW Government’s Smart and Skilled program with a pilot expected to begin from July.
For more information, visit www.training.nsw.gov.au/programs_services/funded_other/clubsnsw/index.html

The NSW Government has today launched a bold program to set aside a portion of coal mining royalties to ensure coal mining communities have a strong future for decades to come.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro announced the new fund in Breeza today and said the new Royalties for Rejuvenation fund will see $25 million set aside each year to ensure coal mining communities have the support they need to develop other industries in the long-term.
“Make no mistake, coal mining has a strong future in this state, but to ensure stability for the long haul we are setting aside funds so those coal mining communities, which produce such a valuable resource for our state, can plan what their future looks like,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Today we are announcing a future fund, for future generations and future jobs, to ensure long-term prosperity in regional NSW.
“The NSW Government’s Future of Coal Strategy is a roadmap for the coal industry in NSW, but we understand that mines have a lifespan, and we need to ensure coal mining communities keep quality high-paying jobs in their towns for the next generation and the generation after that.”
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government recognises that the coal mining industry is the economic backbone of this state and in turn coal mining communities need certainty for their future.
“Hundreds of millions of dollars will be invested in these communities over coming years to ensure jobs and investment in our vital regional areas,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We want to ensure mining towns continue to have highly skilled well-paid jobs in growth industries that will lock in their economic security long into the future, so young people have the opportunity to remain in the town where they grew up.”
This initiative follows the NSW Government’s introduction of the highly successful Resources for Regions program in 2012 which has seen $345 million invested in local mining communities.