The government last year hired Rear Admiral Steve Gilmore on a 50-day contract, worth $125,000.

In a budget estimates hearing on defence industries and advanced manufacturing, Mark Bowles from the State Growth Department told the committee Rear Admiral Gilmore’s time-based contract would expire in August.

He said the department was negotiating another contract which would see him work more often.

Labor leader Rebecca White questioned whether Rear Admiral Gilmore had delivered tangible outcomes during his time in the position.

Defence Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff said he was not subject to key performance indicators under his current contract.

He said Rear Admiral Gilmore had helped open doors for Tasmanian businesses to the defence industry and improved the state’s reputation in the sector.

Mr Rockliff said his pay was similar to the same advocacy positions in other states.

He said Rear Admiral Gilmore played a big role in a recent trade mission to Washington DC where Tasmanians represented one-third of the Australian deference delegation at showcase G’Day Australia.

The trip involved representatives from seven Tasmanian businesses and cost $186,500.

The federal government plans to invest $195 million in defence in the next eight years.

Just 0.03 per cent of the total defence budget spend is spent in Tasmania.

At the hearing on Thursday, Mr Rockliff announced Launceston-based ICT Company Definium Technologies had landed a $1.5 million contract to supply hi-tech electronic components to a large-scale international mining project.

It is expected to create 12 jobs over 18 months; six of those immediately.