Lisa Chesters (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last week I shared with the House the great news that the Albanese Labor government had secured the jobs at Bendigo Thales with a new contract to manufacture Bushmasters in our electorate. There will be an extra 78 to replenish the Army and make sure that they maintain the high level of capability that we want them to have. This week I'm proud to say that this contract will also help secure the jobs in the supply chain.

Whilst we know that these defence manufacturing jobs aren't make or break for local businesses, they do help to shore work up. The steel that goes into a Bushmaster is Australian made, helping to secure steel jobs. Parts like the mufflers and the exhausts in the Bushmasters are Australian made. You go into the factory, and the workers proudly point out to you the origins of the parts that go into a Bushmaster. Believe it or not, there are over 500 welding points in a Bushmaster, demonstrating the skill and the work that go into manufacturing Bushmasters. All of us with defence manufacturing industries are incredibly proud of what our electorates do and how they help ensure that our men and women in the armed services have the equipment that they need. This government is committed to smart, sensible, secure supply-chain jobs in defence manufacturing and securing those defence manufacturing jobs now and into the future.