David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

When Australia, under the Howard government, signed on in 2002 as a full partner nation in the Joint Strike Fighter program, it did so with great foresight. Australian industry has had the opportunity to support a major aircraft production line, as well as gaining access to aerospace market opportunities beyond the Joint Strike Fighter. Australia's participation in the Joint Strike Fighter program has resulted in an Australian part in almost every aircraft produced. The Australian defence industry has already been awarded over $355 million worth of work. Defence estimates that Australian industry will win at least $1.5 billion worth of work during the Joint Strike Fighter production phase, over the life of the program. Many companies have had noteworthy success already in winning work from the program: Ferra Engineering and Ball Solutions Group in Queensland; Vipac Engineers and Scientists Ltd in Adelaide; Rosebank Engineering Australia, Marand Precision Engineering, and Levett Engineering in Melbourne; Quickstep in New South Wales; ST Kinetics here in Canberra; and Calytrix Technologies in Perth; to name but a few.