South Australia will establish a task force to maximise local involvement in the development and construction of Australia's new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.
The government has allocated $1 million to provide local support to the federal government's Nuclear-Powered Submarine Taskforce.
The two groups will work closely across key areas including safety, environmental protection, facilities and infrastructure, and securing the necessary workforce
"South Australia's defence industry is already spearheading some of the most significant maritime and naval shipbuilding projects in the history of our country and I want to future-proof this vital industry for our state," Premier Steven Marshall said.
"Our task force will be working in lockstep with the Australian government's Nuclear-Powered Submarine Taskforce to support this national endeavour and deliver positive outcomes for South Australian workers, communities, and industry for decades to come."
While the initiative was announced on Friday, as the premier campaigned for the March state election, the funding for the task force was costed and included in the budget before the government entered caretaker mode.
Under the AUKUS alliance with the United States and Great Britain, Australia will get access to nuclear technology to power the navy's new fleet of submarines.
The commonwealth has set aside $300 million for its own task force to identify the best way to acquire at least eight boats from either the US or UK, with construction to be centred in Adelaide.
The task force will spend 18 months reviewing the options and will deliver its advice to cabinet in early 2023.
