Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

around highly advanced technological jobs in defence industry is clearly working. This is a national project that employs around 5,000 Australians, and that number will only grow. We in the Turnbull government have decided that if we're going to have the biggest build-up of our military capability in our peacetime history—$200 billion—while capability will always be number 1, number 2 should be Australian industry content, driving jobs, investment, growth and research. Because we on this side of the House believe in growing the economy and having jobs for the economy, whereas the Labor Party only has policies to try and out-green the Greens in Batman.

This is also a national project, so companies all around Australia are benefitting, companies like AW Bell in Dandenong South, in the member for Isaacs' electorate, who make the chassis for the electrical eyes of the joint strike fighters; Heat Treatment Australia, at Coopers Plains in Moreton, who do testing and product-proving services; Marand at Moorabbin, as I've already talked about, which is in the member for Maribyrnong's electorate, who do the vertical tails for the Joint Strike Fighter; and Ferra Engineering in Bonner, which is a very famous example—they've doubled their size because of our investments in the Joint Strike Fighter; they make the holsters for the missiles.

We've also won the right to be the regional hub for the Asia-Pacific for the maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade of the joint strike fighters. That means companies like BAE in Newcastle, in the member for Paterson's electorate, will be doing the warehousing and HI Fraser, in the member for Mackellar's electorate, will be doing the maintaining of refuelling valves and auxiliary power systems—driving jobs, driving investment and driving high-tech, skilled workers. It's a great outcome today. Congratulations to everyone involved in it. (Time expired)

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