Hunter Business Chamber: Business reinforces its commitment

Source: Hunter Business Chamber

The Hunter is well positioned to take on large defence industry contracts. Hunter Business Chamber CEO, Peter Shinnick, said that Hunter businesses were well aware of the massive potential of defence contracts for the region.

‘Business has been working toward becoming a cluster of choice for defence related contracts for many years with success,’ he said.

There are currently more than 60 member companies that sit on the Chamber’s Defence Industry Committee. This Committee has been for a number of years working on a united front to identify and compete for contracts. It is represented by some of the region’s major defence contractors as well as those who are breaking into the sector.

Mr Shinnick added that the Defence Forum held in Newcastle today again highlighted that the Hunter already had credibility and potential to deliver major projects.

‘The region learned a great deal from major contracts like the Forgacs Mine Hunter win.

‘Large manufacturing companies around the region are competing and winning major international and domestic contracts.

‘With a number of major projects on the horizon including the F18F Super Hornet and Joint Strike Fighter acquisitions, and a complete military vehicle fleet modernisation program, the business and manufacturing sectors are certainly working to make sure that they are most competitive.

‘These projects also offer the opportunity for the establishment of ongoing maintenance facilities in the region. Such decisions would provide the real long term benefits to the Hunter.

‘We do not believe that having the Australian Minister for Defence and the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence located in our region should influence the awarding of contracts to local companies. But we do believe that both are totally aware, as is the Hunter Business Chamber, of how well positioned this region’s business sector is to be a centre of defence industry excellence,’ Mr Shinnick said.

For further information: Peter Shinnick 0428 242 891