An independent review of the Australian Government’s Centre for Defence Industry Capability (CDIC) will aim to strengthen support for small and regional businesses to take up opportunities in Australia’s growing defence industry.
Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price announced that the Terms of Reference for the review, which are part of a suite of measures that have been initiated to help small businesses get better service from, and greater access to Defence, has been release today.
“The CDIC is a key initiative of the 2016 Defence White Paper, which was formed to help grow a competitive, sustainable defence industry base,” Minister Price said.
She added that she is determined to help the defence industry grow stronger after “listening carefully to feedback from defence companies across Australia”.
“The CDIC is often referred to as the front door for service support for local defence companies. I want to throw those doors wide open and this review aims to help us to achieve that. We’ll be engaging defence companies on ways to boost this help.”
The Terms of Reference for the review can be accessed at: https://www.defence.gov.au/casg/DoingBusiness/Industry/Findingopportunities/Centre%20for%20Defence%20Industry%20Capability.asp
The review will be led by co-chairs of the CDIC Advisory Board Kate Carnell, who is the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman and Deputy Secretary of Defence’s Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group Tony Fraser.
The co-chairs will release a discussion paper seeking views from industry which will be used to inform the review and its recommendations to Government, which will be delivered to the Minister in the middle of this year.
The CDIC service is delivered by the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources on behalf of Defence and it will be consulted as part of the review.
To download the latest issue of Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter, click here
