1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,680 Speaker 1: We know an industry delegation is set to head to 2 00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 1: the Indo Pacific. It is all in an effort to 3 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:09,480 Speaker 1: try to strengthen defense partnerships and expand economic opportunities for 4 00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory. So the week long strategic mission is 5 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,600 Speaker 1: going to be led by Defense NT and is aimed 6 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: at really deepening those relationships with the US Defense as 7 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:24,960 Speaker 1: well as defense contractors. The delegation will include representatives from 8 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: the Darwin Major Business Group, master Builders, Industry Capability Network 9 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 1: and local construction contractors. And joining me on the line 10 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: to tell us a little bit more is the Darwin 11 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 1: Major Business Group's chair Steve Marjedik. Good morning to you, Steve. 12 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie. 13 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 3: Lovely to have you on the show. Steve. What's the 14 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 3: aim of the delegation, Katie. 15 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 2: The delegation, this is not the first delegation we've been 16 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 2: I think it's the fifth over to Hawaii to advance 17 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 2: the territory's interest to better participate in the US funded 18 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 2: opportunities that will be occurring in Australia. And it's really 19 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 2: geared around ensuring that there is visibility of territory industry 20 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 2: and capability in front of the US companies that are 21 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 2: intended to be delivering the projects in Australia. 22 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: Now, I guess to our listeners, they might be thinking 23 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:23,039 Speaker 1: to themselves, oh, why have we got a group of 24 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: people from the Northern Territory going all that way to 25 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:26,959 Speaker 1: have these conversations. 26 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,119 Speaker 3: But why is it so important? 27 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 2: I guess a little bit of perspective on it. Industry 28 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 2: has been funding a or self funding a defense campaign 29 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 2: for more than ten years now and a very good 30 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:45,680 Speaker 2: example of the importance of this, we were able to 31 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 2: change the ADF's procurement policy around seven years ago or 32 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 2: six years ago now, which put a greater focus on 33 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 2: local participation in the delivery of their projects, and that 34 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 2: led from a local participation rate of thirty percent as 35 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 2: it was back then, to something now that's close to 36 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 2: ninety percent now. To put that in a bit more context, 37 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 2: that's worth about three thousand plus construction jobs to the 38 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 2: territory and it's a huge contributor to our economy in 39 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 2: terms of you. 40 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: Know who the delegation is going to meet and how 41 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: those minds might be more focused on the Northern Territory. 42 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 3: Who are you going to be meeting with? 43 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: And you know what are you going to be discussing 44 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: in terms of really trying to put the Northern Territory 45 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 1: at the forefront. Well. 46 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 2: As I mentioned that, there have been a number of 47 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:42,799 Speaker 2: delegations over the last eighteen months that industry have undertaken 48 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 2: and that's gradually increased the profile of territory businesses. Theres 49 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:53,639 Speaker 2: around twenty five US contractors that are going to participate 50 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 2: in this current summit, plus there will be representatives from 51 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 2: the the US Command in Hawaii there and as well 52 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 2: as a number of others. These are about actually selling 53 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 2: or creating the awareness of what capability exists in Northern Australia, 54 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 2: as opposed to feeding that information in to a group 55 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 2: that is delivering around fifteen billion dollars worth of infrastructure 56 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 2: work in the broader Pacific Western Pacific region. So context 57 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 2: for the Australian component is really important. All of that 58 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 2: work in the Pacific and Western Pacific is being undertaken 59 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 2: by primarily contractors out of Hawaii and mainly in the US. 60 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 2: We're very keen when the work that will be undertaken 61 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 2: in Australia commences, and some of it has already commenced, 62 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:51,640 Speaker 2: but when the bulk of it there's another one point 63 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 2: four billion of work to be undertaken in Northern Australia 64 00:03:55,760 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 2: that has that right level of local participation involved in 65 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 2: it so that the economic benefit flows through to the 66 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 2: people living here, Steve. 67 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 1: Is it hard to get, you know, to get some 68 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 1: of these minds that maybe look to you know, to 69 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: contractors that they've used in locations like Hawaii previously. Is 70 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 1: it hard to get them to sort of look to 71 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: the Northern Territory and see that we are capable. 72 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 2: Oh, I think the Northern Territory has got an excellent 73 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 2: track worker would have delivering complex, large projects for defense 74 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 2: and you know other infrastructure works over over decades. So 75 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 2: it's really about getting that story out, Katie. I think 76 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 2: most of the US firms are used to working with 77 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 2: the resources that are there, but you've got to connect 78 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 2: and create the relationships and be able to do that 79 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 2: well in advance the projects actually coming out, Otherwise there's 80 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 2: not enough time to do it. And that's what these 81 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 2: are about. And as I say, this is I think 82 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 2: the fifth one. Now I was actually over there in 83 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 2: October last year as well on a previous one. There 84 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 2: is a lot of interests with US contractors getting to 85 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 2: understand what the North Australian capability is and how the 86 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 2: industry works. So it's really creating a relationship and one 87 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:10,280 Speaker 2: that we hope will last. 88 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, and so from this troup. But it does sound 89 00:05:13,200 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 1: as though that really easy aim. But are there any 90 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 1: key outcomes that you are hoping to achieve from this trip? 91 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:25,479 Speaker 2: As I said, some of the work that's already been 92 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:29,239 Speaker 2: let out here is going to Australian firms and territory firms, 93 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 2: so that's a huge step forward. Already. What we are 94 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 2: seeing though is a step change in the scale of 95 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 2: the projects. So for instance, there's some work that I 96 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 2: think will be released in Darwin over the next six 97 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,600 Speaker 2: months that it will be in the order of five 98 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 2: hundred oid million, and they're very substantial projects that we're 99 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:53,040 Speaker 2: very keen to make sure that there is local participation in. 100 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 2: So the relationshipship form we've got to continually be maintained 101 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:02,039 Speaker 2: and grown around the scale of projects at the particular time. 102 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 2: So it's not a do one trip and then you've 103 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:07,599 Speaker 2: kicked the box and you move on. It's got to 104 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:10,760 Speaker 2: be continually reinforced and as I say, this is part 105 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 2: of a decade long campaign that industry is funded and 106 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 2: it's one will continue to fund and we just we're 107 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 2: very pleased that the government is getting in behind this 108 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:24,560 Speaker 2: through Defense endt as master builders have played a pivotal role. 109 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 2: The ICN equally has a has an excellent data set 110 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 2: for Northern Australia, probably better than any other jurisdiction in 111 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:38,200 Speaker 2: the country. And we've got very successful local companies already 112 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 2: heavily invested in the defense sector. So all the ingredients 113 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:43,320 Speaker 2: are there, but you've got to connect them with the 114 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:45,039 Speaker 2: opportunity and that's what this does. 115 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:47,200 Speaker 3: Steve, when do you guys all head off? 116 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:52,159 Speaker 2: So the group is over there now. They left on 117 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:54,559 Speaker 2: the weekend, so this will be occurring over the next 118 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:57,719 Speaker 2: week or so and then there'll be some further further 119 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:01,719 Speaker 2: discussions which industry are undertaking on their own in DC 120 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:06,279 Speaker 2: later in the month, but they're underway now and the 121 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 2: forum will be on in the day afternoxt. 122 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 1: Well, we'll be interested to hear how it all goes. 123 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 1: I really appreciate your time this morning, thanks for making 124 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 1: us aware of it. And I know you know Territorians 125 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 1: are keen, particularly depending on what industry you work in, 126 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: but certainly keen to see some of that work happening 127 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: in the Northern Territory and seeing the economic benefit of it. 128 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:31,760 Speaker 2: Absolutely, it's important of all of us. I mean, as 129 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 2: I said, to get from thirty percent to close it 130 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 2: a ninety percent in local participation with Australian government defense 131 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 2: work here and that being equivalent to three thousand plus 132 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 2: additional jobs. These are very meaningful opportunities and we can't 133 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 2: afford to miss them. 134 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 1: Well, Steve Margedek from the Darwin Major Business Group, the 135 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:53,200 Speaker 1: chair really appreciate your time this morning. 136 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:54,920 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for joining us on the show. 137 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 2: Pleasure Katie. 138 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 3: Thank you.