Australian companies with an interest in the defence sector are urged to complete the government’s Defence Industrial Capability Assessment 2016 Company Survey.

The survey, which will provide input to Australia’s first ten-year Defence Industrial Capability Plan, seeks to identify and analyse the industrial capabilities of Australia’s defence industry.  The deadline for responses is January 31st.

The Defence Industrial Capability Plan, due to be released in mid 2017, will outline the Government’s strategy for strengthening Australian defence industry over the next decade and beyond. It will include opportunities to support delivery of the Integrated Investment Program released as part of the 2016 Defence White Paper.

Early consultation forums on the Plan were held in each state and territory in late 2016 and will continue in the first quarter of this year.

The 10-minute Survey will help establish a baseline of Australian defence industry capability today and planned development over the next year, said Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon. Christopher Pyne.

“The Defence Industrial Capability Plan will be a centrepiece of the Government’s strategy to position our defence industry to seize the unprecedented opportunities available over the next decade and beyond,” Minister Pyne said.

“I encourage all companies with an interest in supporting Defence to complete the survey and to contribute to this seminal work for the future of our Defence and sovereign industrial capability.”

The assessment covers the industrial capabilities that companies are able to generate now, or will be in a position to generate within the next 12 months as a result of activities already underway, such as building a new factory or warehouse or equipment already purchased.

Intentions or ideas to grow a capability in the future should not be considered in the survey. The capabilities described could be those you currently offer to the market, or those you have the capability to offer to the market.

The capabilities do not need to have been purchased by a Defence or a National Security client.

All responses are confidential and will be reported in a de-identified and aggregated form to State and Territory Governments for statistical purposes.

The Survey is open until 31 January 2017 and is accessible through https://dricco2016.questionpro.com