The department is spending more than $30 billion across the country on defence projects though the state government says that Tasmania attracts less than 0.03 per cent of that.

The state has missed out on two substantial contracts in the past 14 months.

In December, a consortium, including shipbuilder Incat, lost out on a $600 million bid to build 21 patrol boats over eight years.

A Tasmanian consortium, which included Burnie-based manufacturer Elphinstone, failed in July to win a Defence Department contract to build 225 armoured vehicles in the North-West, creating 150 jobs over a five-year manufacturing period.

Each of the vehicles were expected to cost $7 million.

Notices of motion were introduced into the House of Representatives and Senate on Wednesday to lobby for a fair share of defence spending in the state, appropriate to expertise, skills and capability.

This has followed up to six months of consultation with industry and, most recently, a briefing with the University of Tasmania on its defence capability.

Braddon Labor MHR Justine Keay said the state had many opportunities in defence research, associated education, training and manufacturing.

“These opportunities for Tasmania can deliver a range of significant social and economic benefits across the state, including a growth in industry research and increased employment through advanced manufacturing,” she said.

Liberal Senator David Bushby said the university and Australian Maritime College were well-placed to take advantage of defence opportunities, such as its submarine program.

AMC principal Neil Bose said the school had one of the largest autonomous underwater vehicle expertise bases in Australia, with a fleet of state-of- the-art AUV’s suited for a range of defence-related projects.

“With the expertise we can gather together, our institution has the capabilities to lead or add significant value to future defence projects through research, the development of leading-edge technologies and workforce training and re-skilling.”

Senator Jacqui Lambie did not vote in favour of the motion, saying that the major parties were taking credit for the university’s work.