The federal government will today reportedly announce plans, including the shoring up of shipbuilding in Victoria and South Australia, as part of a three-day stint of campaigning in SA.
The Australian reports that federal cabinet will meet today and the government will announce billions to support the state’s industry.
Among the announcements will be a $20 billion commitment to build a fleet of frigates and more support for manufacturing following the end of local car assembly by 2018. Work on the first ship would start a minimum of two years from now.
Industry minister Ian Macfarlane will detail an “advanced manufacturing” statement. With “multi-million-dollar projects” backed at state and federal government level, reports The Australian.
The campaign will also include announcements to train 400 workers, guaranteeing them work on the NBN.
The federal government and prime minister Tony Abbott are both unpopular in the state. According to polling by Newspoll taken in the SA in the three months to the end of March, Abbott’s approval rating was 19 per cent – the lowest of any PM since 1996.
Image: http://www.navy.gov.au/