AUKUS Manufacturing Taskforce

Updated AUKUS pact has ‘get-out clause’ for US and UK. An updated AUKUS agreement and political ‘understanding’ between the countries includes an escape clause if the US or UK decides the pact weakens their own nuclear submarine programs. Treaty documents tabled in parliament on Monday will allow the US and Britain to pull out of the deal with just one year’s notice if they decide it threatens their own nuclear submarine programs. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the new 51-year agreement was a major AUKUS milestone, and came on top of “significant progress”, including the passage of enabling legislation in the US. The documents, including a revamped #AUKUS agreement and a new political “understanding”, commit the nation’s AUKUS partners to make “best efforts” to supply nuclear materials and equipment to Australia over the next 50 years. See https://lnkd.in/g7wMaGxb AUKUS Forum, Michael Sharpe 🇦🇺🇬🇧🇺🇸

Unleash AUKUS with High Speed Rail. Integrating AUKUS, Manufacturing, and National Security: A Vision for Australia's Future. Australia is on the brink of a transformative journey that promises to redefine its economic landscape and bolster national security. A visionary initiative known as "Tracks to Trade" integrates high-speed freight rail with manufacturing hubs and affordable housing, setting the stage for sustained growth and resilience across the nation. This initiative is more than AUKUS, more than manufacturing and value-adding and builds on Australia’s strengths in agriculture and critical minerals wealth—it is an ambition for a stronger Australia. South Australia’s Premier Peter Malinauskas highlighted the complexity and scale of this undertaking, stating, “AUKUS is not just a big project. It is exceptionally complicated. It will require not just raw intelligence but acute skills. For our interests to be realized, we need the whole nation to be putting into the effort; otherwise, we will compromise our ability to meet the very aggressive timelines we have in front of us. There is no more complex undertaking on the planet than building a nuclear submarine. And I don’t think the rest of the country is necessarily attuned to the scope of this task. We need to change our thinking about AUKUS and what it means for Australia. We need to think of AUKUS as placing a demand on virtually every agency you can think of—housing, education, logistics, transport, engineering, training, and skills. It’s a cross-government effort, an all-in effort.” Central to this transformation is the integration of a high-speed rail link connecting these regions to Darwin for freight and national security. This connection will facilitate the efficient movement of materials and components essential for submarine construction and other defence projects. By incorporating defence supply chains with "Tracks to Trade," the power of #AUKUS can be fully unleashed. By Michael Sharpe, CEO at the AUKUS Forum 🇦🇺 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 Read more https://lnkd.in/gx65bDRK

#AUKUS opportunities 🇦🇺🇬🇧🇺🇸

Connecting Industry managing director Kieran Moran attended the Unleashing the Power of AUKUS Forum up in Biloela yesterday. AUKUS is the name for the security deal Australia, the UK and the US (A-UK-US) agreed to at the end of 2021 in relation to the nuclear-powered submarine pathway and what benefits it could possibly deliver for Australia. The nuclear-powered submarine (first-pillar) was discussed briefly, but the second AUKUS pillar involved discussions of how the supply chain, predominately the manufacturing sector, can contribute to enhancing our defence capabilities and applications in Queensland. From discussions to how the supply chain can contribute via long-term planning and aligning their capabilities to micro recycling critical and rare earth minerals, First Nations contributions, and real-world applications for advanced robotics and integration of AI into the manufacturing process, Kieran said the possible supply chain opportunities need to be strategically considered as the defence industry is growing in Queensland. Thanks to Michael Sharpe, Chief Executive of AUKUS Forum for facilitating, Tony Gambling, Director of Regional Development Australia (Central & West QLD), Scientia Professor Veena Sahajwalla, Project Director of THE AKANA GROUP INC. Judd McCann, and COO and BD Lead at ARM Hub (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Samuel Jesuadian, for presenting their insights and potential opportunities for the supply chain.

Unleashing the Queensland Power of #AUKUS 🇦🇺🇬🇧🇺🇸 Join us for a terrific lineup of speakers! Including Samuel Jesuadian with the ARM Hub (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing) Find out how Australian businesses are benefiting from robotics, AI, and design-led manufacturing. We will also hear from Abhiney Arora at the Queensland Industry Capability Network Tony Gambling at Queensland - Regional Development Australia 🇦🇺 Register here now! https://lnkd.in/g3X4-NBW Read about the AUKUS Forum partnership with BANANA SHIRE COUNCIL here https://lnkd.in/gxcp5NyP Thanks for the support by our Advisory Board Co-Chairs, former Defence Minister, Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon GAICD and former United States Ambassador The Hon. Arthur Sinodinos AO Manufacturing Queensland; Manufacturing Skills Queensland; Department of Industry, Science and Resources; Department of the Premier and Cabinet (Queensland); Department of Resources (Queensland); Don Roach, AM; Local Government Association of Queensland; Queensland Government

The U.S. Senate yesterday passed the Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy (ADVANCE) Act, sending legislation that would make sweeping changes to the approval process for new technology in the nuclear energy sector to President Biden for final approval. Among the numerous provisions in the ADVANCE Act are the following directives to the NRC: Enhance preparedness and coordination to qualify and license advanced reactor fuel. Within 18 months, develop risk-informed, performance-based strategies and guidance to license and regulate microreactors. Within 180 days, submit a report to Congress on manufacturing and construction for nuclear energy projects. Within a year, update its mission statement to convey that licensing and regulation of nuclear energy activities be conducted in a manner that does not unnecessarily limit “the benefits of nuclear energy technology to society.” Strengthen its workforce by allowing the NRC chair to appoint up to 120 exceptionally well-qualified people into the excepted service at any given time, plus up to 20 more into term-limited positions in any fiscal year. Identify and report on regulations, guidance, or policy necessary to license and oversee nuclear facilities at brownfield site. See https://lnkd.in/erZasPXz

#AUKUS 🇦🇺🇬🇧🇺🇸

#Auckland NZ Great talks with Andrew Bayly MP, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing. My Akubra hat was a hit. 👍 Top day in New Zealand and talking with a range of industry at the National Manufacturing Expo. Discussions around everything from robotics welding to electronics design and much more. It’s a big week as we walk the factory floors and crisscross the nation ✅ Growing opportunities across the Ditch 😊 Ed Husic MP, Hon Judith Collins KC MP, The Hon. Arthur Sinodinos AO, Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon GAICD, Jasmin Diab CSC, Veena Sahajwalla, Brad Lynch, MAKE│NZ Dieter Adam, Vicky Hackett, Rodney Young, Neil Parker, Ian Hudson, Jacqui Nelson, Maria MacNamara, Anders Hallgren, Ivan Chua, Roger Kermode, Jason L., Kylah Limmer, Daniel Munro, Anirban Ghose