News Release

Record Turnout for Defence Regional
Industry Briefing Sessions

Defence's annual regional briefing program for industry attracted more than double the number of business representatives this year.

Led by the Defence Acquisition Organisation, the program aims to provide up-to-date policy information and worthwhile Defence business intelligence to small and medium companies in regional Australia.

Senior policy representatives of the Defence Acquisition Organisation and local Defence speakers with direct purchasing responsibilities provided detailed briefings to industry about outcomes of the recent Defence Procurement Conference, latest policy developments and specific regional business opportunities.

A total of 990 business people, mostly from small and medium enterprises, took part in the sessions during July. For the first time, the number attending the regional presentations exceeded those at the June national Procurement Conference in Canberra (itself a record 792 delegates this year).

Although the regional program contained a core of strategic information, Defence Acquisition Regional Shopfront staff tailored each program to match the range of business which Defence conducts in their State or Territory.

Speakers generally covered major capital equipment acquisition, materiel support, commercialisation and outsourcing, science and technology and estate management issues. The Defence Information Systems Group, which manages Defence Information Technology functions, joined the presentations in some regions for the first time this year.

Likewise, some of Australia's biggest Defence companies sent representatives to speak and, more importantly, to listen to what was occurring in the talks between Defence and small and medium companies.

ADI Limited gave excellent presentations in some centres about the Mine Hunter Coastal ship and Guided Missile Frigate Upgrade projects. A British Aerospace Australia executive spoke to New South Wales briefings about the Lead-in Fighter project. Kaman Aerospace provided information about its work at Nowra in supporting the Navy's helicopter capabilities. Each of these speakers rated very strongly in participant feedback to the Defence Acquisition Organisation.

This year also included wider representation of companies providing commercial support to the Defence Organisation. For example, a Director and a Senior Manager of Serco-Gardner Merchant attended the Darwin briefing, held just three days before the firm took over responsibility for Defence garrison support functions in the Top End.

Defence logisticians presented some excellent information about areas as diverse as market testing the Defence Integrated Distribution System (DIDS) and new arrangements for Naval logistics management.

As well, the briefings provided a perfect opportunity for Defence industry networking between small and medium enterprise, Defence uniformed and civilian managers and representatives of some of the major defence contractors.

Most Defence-related industry associations and support organisations, including the Australian Industry Defence Network, Australian Business Defence Industry Unit and the Industrial Supplies Office were represented.

“Overall the response to the briefings was excellent,” said Alan Tebb, Director General Industry Policy and Programs in DAO. “It is an amazing result to get more than 150 company representatives turn up to a meeting in Darwin and 110 in Townsville.”

“In particular, it was pleasing to see Defence speakers being put 'on the spot' by some very direct questioning from informed members of the audience,” Mr Tebb said. “That's an indication that we're really talking business at these sessions.”

Defence Acquisition Regional Shopfront staff, who organised the briefings, are now analysing feedback with a view to improving the program's value to regional companies.

Next year's regional briefings will occur during June and July and will most likely comprise Sydney, Newcastle, Nowra, Melbourne, Hobart, Brisbane, Townsville, Adelaide, Perth and Darwin.

Many of the Powerpoint presentations from the regional briefing program are available at the Defence Acquisition Organisation Internet site at www.defence.gov.au/dmo

For further information, please contact:
Mike Lawson, Director Policy Communication and Management (02) 62651221.

Issued by the Defence Public Affairs Organisation, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT, 2600

back