Ms ROSOL – Thank you, Premier. This year, 10 Tasmanian companies participated in the 2024 Land Forces exposition. Were any of those companies provided with financial or in‑kind support by the Tasmanian Government in order to attend? If so, could you detail who received what?
Mr ROCKLIFF – Well, we have our defence advocate that supports our advanced manufacturing and defence industries – industries that we should be very proud of in Tasmania. When I consider how far we’ve come in the last 10 years, Ms Rosol, when it comes to our advanced manufacturing capabilities and our capacity and particularly into that defence industry space now – I’m sure it’s probably changed when I quoted these figures a few years ago, but there was $200 billion on the investment agenda from the Australian Government. I was quoting these figures pre‑AUKUS, from memory. There is an enormous ability for us as a state to support that defence industry spend. The investment that we’re making is in the defence advocate and we’re supporting those companies that would have attended Land Forces. I met a company in Adelaide at Land Forces a few years ago and, as a result, was able to introduce some companies there.
Ms ROSOL – Can I clarify whether you funded them to attend this year?
Mr ROCKLIFF – To your question, being mindful of time, I understand that Pivot Maritime received support. Is that right?
Ms CAIRNEY – We are still calculating the costs of our stand at Land Forces. Approximately $250,000 was spent on the Tasmanian stand. However, we do recoup some of the support from the businesses that display at the stand and approximately $50,000 will be recouped from businesses who contribute to be on that stand. I’m trying to check the numbers of businesses that you have attending, because we had many more businesses, defence companies, representing Tasmania at that Land Forces event.
I also want to put on record that since 2019, more than $360 million in defence contracts have been awarded to Tasmanian companies.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I mentioned the company before and I’ll clarify that.
Ms ROSOL – Could we take that on notice, please?
Mr ROCKLIFF – We can provide the details of the $250,000 for the stand. It was a very impressive stand indeed, like our trade shows are across the world as well, they are very impressive. The information was presented by Ms Cairney of $250,000 for the stand, but there may well be further advice we can make at another time.
Ms ROSOL – Thank you. Currawong Engineering was one of the companies that attended the Land Forces expo under the Defence Tasmania banner, and we know that Currawong produces drone engines for a company called BlueBird Aero Systems, which is majority-owned by the Israeli government and produces drones used by the Israeli military. Given the outrageous devastation that Israel has wrought upon the people of Palestine, particularly in the last year, do you think it’s appropriate for the state of Tasmania to be represented by a company that’s engaging with the Israeli military in this way?
Mr ROCKLIFF – I’m very proud of the companies we have in Tasmania and the enormous strides they’ve made in being very innovative in the defence industry and advanced manufacturing space. I am well aware of the company, and there are many others. We’re proud of our defence businesses and the success that they are achieving, thoroughly proud. The sale of defence export or dual-use items to anywhere in the world, including Israel, Russia or Ukraine, for example, is controlled by Australian Government regulation through the Defence Export Controls Branch. The Tasmanian government, I’m advised, is not aware of any products currently being supplied into Israel. Anyone with questions about Australia’s exports into defence markets should seek information from the Australian Government.
CHAIR – Premier, would you happy to take the previous question on notice, to clarify it?
Mr ROCKLIFF – I will update the record or provide the information directly to Ms Rosol should it change, but my advice is that the accelerating trade grant, a total of $3300, was provided to Pivot Maritime to go to Land Forces.
