On behalf of the Queensland Government, I look forward to welcoming the Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) Australasia conference to Brisbane, Queensland in 2023.

Queensland has a strong civil and military aviation industry which is strengthened by a $1.2 billion aircraft manufacturing and maintenance sector, providing more than 4200 jobs across more than 300 enterprises.

Queensland’s capital city, Brisbane, is home to Boeing Defence Australia’s headquarters. While Toowoomba’s Wellcamp Aerospace and Defence Precinct, just 90 minutes west of Brisbane, was named the company’s preferred site for the first ever uncrewed-aircraft production facility outside of North America.

Earlier this year, Queensland Government representatives joined with the Qantas Group to officially open their new flight training centre at Brisbane Airport. This centre has the capacity to train up to 900 pilots each year and is creating employment opportunities for training pilots and simulator technicians in Queensland. This follows the opening of the Qantas Group’s multi-million dollar pilot academy at Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport in 2020 with Queensland Government support.

Alliance Airlines’ new $60 million aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul facility is taking shape in Rockhampton, backed by the Queensland Government’s $175 million Jobs and Regional Growth Fund. This new facility will allow Alliance Airlines to reshore their MRO activities from Slovakia and the United Kingdom to right here in Queensland.

Additionally, Virgin Australia, Airbus Group Australia Pacific, Northrup Grumman, GE Aviation, Jet Aviation and Raytheon Australia all have significant operations based in Queensland.

Through Aviation Australia, the Queensland Government will continue to offer commercial and remote pilot training, cabin crew training and aircraft maintenance engineering courses to enable students to seek opportunities in the rapidly developing drone industry.

The recently updated Queensland Aerospace 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan (the Roadmap), is accelerating opportunities to further build Queensland’s aerospace sector. The Roadmap reflects the changes throughout the sector over the last three years, such as the growing importance of drones and autonomous systems. It also continues to position Queensland as a global industry leader, and outlines how the Queensland Government will enhance industry capability to access new national and global supply chain opportunities and international markets.

By 2025–26, around 5400 highly skilled people are expected to be employed in the aerospace industry in Queensland, and we are on a trajectory to see Queensland recognised as a leading aerospace centre in Australia and South East Asia by 2028.

Over the next decade it is predicted the global aircraft engine MRO demand alone, will be worth more than USD$474 billion, with 33 per cent of this demand focused in the Indo-Pacific region.

Queensland, with its considerable civil and defence aviation strength and expertise, alongside its strategic location at the heart of Asia-Pacific, is primed to capitalise on this demand.

This is what makes Brisbane the perfect destination to host MRO Australasia.

We look forward to hosting delegates in Brisbane for another productive, world-class and successful conference in 2023.