Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

And they have me as a representative. Nonetheless, I want to ensure as best I can that I am able to assist them to take advantage of this $200 billion that is to be spent. Over 170 people came to this defence industry forum. There were 170 small businesses thirsting for information about how they can make a quid, how they can prosecute their own business agendas, how they can grow their businesses and provide for their families and their employees.

We were very proud to announce three defence industry contacts. They are relatively small in the broader scheme of things. There is a defence industry contract in the sum of $1.8 million for the University of the Sunshine Coast, which is doing research into pavements for the development of new types of runways for Defence. That is fantastic for the university, and I believe it will be a hub for defence industry research in the years to come. The second business was HeliMods, a business run by Caloundra icon Will Shrapnel. He started with nothing, and now he has been outfitting emergency helicopters. He just won a $154,000 contract to outfit 12 of the Navy Seahawk Romeo helicopters—once again, a small contract but a fantastic future, a great toe in the door. The third contract was for Praesidium Global, which are making unmanned ground vehicles that will go and retrieve and provide fire support to soldiers on the ground—a $1.3 million contract. The Sunshine Coast is coming of age, and I believe that it will become a hub for defence industry expenditure. (Time expired)

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