According to a Queensland Government press statement, the state has entered a new partnership with Boeing. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queensland will become home to Boeing’s largest autonomous systems development program outside of the United States
“There could be no more fitting way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Boeing’s partnership with Queensland this year than today’s announcement,” Palaszczuk said.
“The 131 jobs that will come with this autonomous vehicles program will grow Boeing’s Queensland workforce– and these are truly jobs of the future.
“Boeing has a proven track record of working with innovative Queensland businesses, a relationship that supports the growth of highly-skilled jobs under this new program.
“Partnerships like this are only possible because of my government’s determination to foster new and highly skilled industries in Queensland – – it’s why we have our $513 million Advance Queensland Initiative, and why last year we launched our Drone Strategy.”
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said today’s announcement marks the ninth project attracted to Queensland through the $65 million Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund.
“The Queensland Government’s support through the Industry Attraction Fund was integral to Boeing’s decision to choose our state for the growing billion-dollar autonomous vehicles market,” Dick said.
“This project will directly benefit Queensland small to medium enterprises that service the aerospace, advanced manufacturing, defence, and resources technology and services sectors.”
Minister for Innovation Kate Jones said the Queensland Government will continue to invest in innovation and build global partnerships to create jobs for Queenslanders.
“Partnerships like this are key to growing and diversifying Queensland’s economy for the future,” ones said. She also mentioned that the announcement will put Queensland’s aerospace industry on the map and will put Queensland proponents and suppliers in the box seat to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the autonomous systems industry, especially as 30 per cent of Australia’s drone business is already based here.”
Nine AQIAF projects will generate more than 580 jobs and more than $260 million dollars in capital expenditure for Queensland in the next five years.
In conjunction with AQIAF, the Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning offers a range of support to businesses considering Queensland to establish their project, including business case development, site selection, assistance facilitating approvals and payroll tax incentives.
Over the next three years, Boeing will develop new autonomous systems capability in Queensland to increase the independent operation of air and sea vehicles, creating an exportable product for the global market.
“Boeing is a recognised market leader for manned and unmanned technology innovation and will continue to pioneer the safe integration of autonomy for defence and commercial applications,” Dick said.
“By employing more people in specialist roles including software and systems engineers, this project will expand Queenslanders’ specialist and technical expertise and intellectual labour capacity in autonomous systems.
“These jobs are on top of Boeing’s 1,500-strong Queensland workforce currently based at Townsville, Brisbane, Amberley and Oakey.
“Boeing’s expanded autonomy operations will leverage Queensland’s existing industry and unique geographical attributes to form a capability like no other in the world.”