SA Treasurer Stephen Mullighan (left) with BAE Systems CEO Craig Lockhart and SA Premier Peter Malinauskas behind him. Photo: Facebook.
One of the largest defence contractors in Australia – BAE Systems – will establish its head office at Lot Fourteen in Adelaide, supporting its continuing work on the Hunter-class frigate and AUKUS submarine programs.
Lot Fourteen, the business and technology precinct in the city centre’s north-east, has already seen a $756 million investment from the government. It has signed the multinational defence company as a cornerstone tenant in the precinct’s Innovation Centre, where it will host about 500 of its employees.
From this position, BAE Systems will have easier access to its operations and partnerships at the Osborne Naval Shipyard and Edinburgh Defence Precinct, Tonsley Innovation District and Findon Technical College.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said South Australia must seize this opportunity to lift its research and innovation capabilities, “which has a direct impact on our standard of living”.
“BAE basing its headquarters at Lot Fourteen, alongside universities, the Defence Technologies Academy, Innovation Hub, space industry and other innovative businesses makes perfect sense,” he said.
“It is about taking the lead to establish and nurture the right environments that foster collaboration and drive economic complexity, creating new, highly skilled jobs.”
The Innovation Centre at Lot Fourteen has already secured a commitment from 77 per cent of its tenants before its construction.
BAE Systems joins three state and federal government projects as tenants, including the $60 million Australian Defence Technologies Academy, the $20 million Innovation Hub and the $20 million Space Assembly Integration and Testing facility.
With these actions, Treasurer Stephen Mullighan believes good progress is being made on the SA Innovation Places Leadership Framework.
This is a decade-long roadmap to ensure a return on the $9.5 billion investment from consecutive state and federal governments across the state’s 22 innovation places, expected to unlock employment for more than 42,000 people.
The Treasurer noted BAE Systems’ city presence as a sign of its continued commitment to the state following its $270 million deal announced in early September. BAE Systems will help significantly boost the production of critical components and assemblies for the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 in Adelaide’s north.
BAE Systems Australia chief executive Craig Lockhart said the tenancy at Lot Fourteen marked an exciting chapter for the company.
“This will complement our existing South Australian footprint where we are delivering our major programs and gives us the flexibility to be co-located with our customers, academia and industry,” he said.
“Over the next 12 months, we expect to recruit 800 new employees across our operations, and Lot Fourteen is a key enabler to achieving our growth ambitions.
“As we continue to grow in South Australia and find ways to enhance employee attraction and retention, it’s important we offer a workspace that inspires our teams, fosters creativity and creates spaces for our employees to thrive.
“Our decision to become an anchor tenant in Lot Fourteen’s new Innovation Centre reflects our enduring commitment to a strong partnership with the Government of South Australia and a continuing journey for economic development and sustainability.”
