Victorian Labor will commit $5 million to establish a dedicated Victorian Defence Procurement Office, to be located in Geelong.
This new office will ensure that the skill and capability of Victorian and Geelong manufacturers are marketed to the world’s largest defence contractors – generating vitally important local manufacturing jobs.
Victoria is already home to some of the most highly skilled defence manufacturing companies in the world, producing sophisticated land based mobility vehicles like the Thales Bushmaster at Bendigo.
The establishment of a Victorian Defence Procurement Office in Geelong will ensure the growth of the manufacturing industry, creating jobs that will provide opporunities to increase skills and wages for more Victorians.
The exit of Ford provides a window of opportunity for the vehicle building workforce and component supply chain to transition into defence building, but certainty from the Federal Government is vital if this chance is to be seized.
Victorian Labor will do its part by supporting the promotion of local companies internationally, but it is up to Tony Abbott to deliver certainty to those companies looking to compete for this new work by placing an order for the LAND 400 this year.