Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I am pleased to say that we have had very positive feedback. The initiative was well worked through in discussions with local industry representatives, particularly in the Northern Territory, and elsewhere. Masters Builders Northern Territory has described it as 'an important step in making sure that local businesses have a real opportunity to tender for work in the rollout of the nearly $8 billion in defence infrastructure over the next decade.' Similarly, the Civil Contractors Federation NT has said that small-to-medium civil construction companies will be the major beneficiaries of this new approach. The Capricorn Coast Business Alliance in Central Queensland has also backed the initiative, as has Nicole Manison, the Deputy Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, who welcomed the plan and its focus on local business. Unlike many others—particularly, if I might say, those opposite, who neglected defence infrastructure and investment—we are actually committed to ensuring that regional communities benefit from this commitment and that defence capability benefits from this commitment as well. (Time expired)