The Hon Pat Conroy MP
Minister for Defence Industry
Minister for International Development and the Pacific

MEDIA RELEASE

This week I will travel to the United States to discuss the expansion of the industrial power of the Alliance and Australia’s domestic manufacturing industry, and deepen cooperation on international development and the Pacific.

The strong relationship between our defence industrial bases is vitally important to deliver a genuine capability edge. During this visit, I will meet officials and industry leaders to discuss how we can further deepen this relationship.

I look forward to discussing tangible next steps on Australia’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise, and building on productive discussions at the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) in July.

This visit provides an opportunity to progress our shared commitment to co-produce Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) in our respective countries.

A key recommendation of the Defence Strategic Review was to accelerate and expand long-range strike and guided weapons stocks and to establish domestic missile manufacturing in Australia.

I will also meet key US counterparts in the US Administration and Congress, the World Bank and think tanks to further progress our cooperation on development and in the Pacific.

I look forward to holding the annual Australia-United States Development Dialogue with USAID and making sure our two countries deliver effective, targeted and complementary aid.