Building a competitive Western Australian defence supply sector

Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney has congratulated GCo Electrical in Geraldton on their receipt of a $30,000 grant toimprove their competitiveness to secure work related to the Australian Government's multi-billion dollar defence programs.

The funding is part of the defence-specific round of the State Government's Industry Facilitation and Support Program (IFSP).

Mr Blayney said IFSP would enable small and medium-sized businesses in Western Australia to purchase equipment, upgrade facilities, and contract finance and marketing experts.

“The successful recipients will use this funding to up-skill and diversify their business base, ensuring they are in the best position possible to take advantage of defence-related contracts,” Mr Blayney said.

“GCo Electrical will use this funding to improve internal business infrastructure systems to ensure they continue to offer a broad scope of works and solutions to their customers.”  

The IFSP defence round will provide more than $350,000 in dollar-for-dollar assistance to 16 WA businesses.

Mr Blayney said IFSP has supported 257 WA-based SMEs to win 539 major contracts valued at $313 million since 2011.

"The State Government's $4.4 million investment in local industry has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in major contracts that have created 565 new jobs, including 66 apprenticeships," Mr Blayney said.

“I’d like to congratulate Murray Hadley and his team for developing a company that looks across WA and Australia for work.

“One of Geraldton’s strengths into the future is to develop as a venue for education and training, and as a base for companies like GCo,” said Mr Blayney.