Why we do it
The Australian Government and Opposition share the bi-partisan view Australian industry is a Fundamental Input to Capability.
The 2016 Defence White Paper states (page 20), “Australian defence industry provides a range of critical direct and support services and is a fundamental input to Defence capability”.
It adds (page 21) the Government is, “strengthening Defence’s international engagement and international defence relationships and arrangements, enhancing the ADF’s preparedness and investing in upgrades to the ADF’s basing and infrastructure”.
This policy is being delivered through the 2016 Integrated Investment Program and 2016 Defence Industry Policy Statement.
In short, Australian Government policy is to build a Defence Export Industry with interdependent manufacturing and import/export collaboration with other Nations.
There is often a lag between publication of a new innovative policy and the organisational culture change needed to deliver the intended outcomes. CDA helps bridge that gap by bringing together DAs with senior Australian industry and government executives.
Although the three core policy documents were released in 2016 and despite worthy steps taken by Defence, many industry executives have reinforced the need for a bridge over the delivery gap.
So why engage with the DA community in Canberra?
DAs are professional military officers that understand their respective National Defence capability requirements and have secure access to high levels within their own Governments and industries.
They uniquely apply the disciplines of their respective Service with diplomacy, to identify Defence import/export and information cooperation opportunities.