Industry not convinced by Rudd's shipbuilding plan

Kevin Rudd has vowed to shore up Australia's shipbuilding industry as it faces an uncertain short term future.

He said he will fast-track crucial projects if he is re-elected, but industry insiders need more convincing.

They have serious concerns the ship-building workforce will die off within coming years, during a so-called ‘death valley’ - a period of inactivity after the air warfare destroyer contract ends.

Kevin Rudd today said his solution is fast-tracking the replacement of two supply ships, with at least one to be fitted out locally.

He believes that will keep the industry going until work begins on 12 new submarines.

“The question of capability, design, construction and sustainment - it will present for us a challenge of unprecedented scale and complexity, but across Australia it will expand jobs,” Mr Rudd said.

The local industry is pleased, but doubts it will go far enough.

“That will be a limited amount of work for Australian industry with these logistics ships,” Chris Burns from the South Australian Defence Teaming Centre said.

“We need that continuous flow of work.”

The Coalition plans to announce its ship-building policy on Monday.