Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It's an honour to speak on the procurement of the Land 400 phase 2 combat reconnaissance vehicles for the Australian Army because investments like these keep Australian soldiers safe. The German Boxer eight-by-eight CRV will replace the ASLAVs that have seen continuous operational service since 1996. I pay credit to the ASLAVs because back in the early 1990s, as the 2nd Calvary Regiment moved north to the Robertson Barracks in Darwin, they received the ASLAVs and then when Timor erupted in 1999 the ASLAVs were put into service and have been continually in service, with upgrades that provide greater protection for the crew, in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have performed a very important role for our nation in keeping our people safe.

These new generation Boxers will operate in high-threat operations, ranging from peacekeeping through to close combat operations. It's vital that our soldiers have the best available kit to not only protect them but enable mission success. It's also excellent that they're going to be equipped with very potent weapon systems, like the Israeli Rafael Spike long-range antitank guided missile, which has a range out to four kilometres. Again this will keep our people safe.

I welcome that Rheinmetall will base its regional headquarters as well as its manufacturing hub in south-eastern Queensland. It's important, as a matter of principle, that we keep and grow our onshore defence manufacturing capabilities. Of course, principles, by their very definition, are universal. With that in mind, I'd like to read two lines of this motion that has been moved in the House. It states that this House:

(2) supports job creation in construction and sustainment;

(3) recognises this project presents an exciting opportunity for Australian industry to play a vital role in delivering leading-edge capability and technology to Australia's army …

These are praiseworthy aims. It's important that this House supports job creation in construction and sustainment and the local defence industry everywhere around the country, including of course Queensland, WA, SA and the Northern Territory, where I'm from and where such noble principles espoused by the federal government often die in a ditch.

The Top End plays an important role in keeping our nation safe and strengthening our alliance with our US allies. The government's $1.1 billion program of infrastructure upgrades at RAAF Base Tindal is a case in point. Making sure Territorians can tender for these works is the least Canberra can do for our Territory businesses. As part of the promised $20 billion of defence funding in northern Australia over coming decades, $737 million has been committed to upgrade the Tindal airfield, extend the runway and build extra fuel storage facilities. The government has said that an additional $437 million will go towards engineering services on the base for power, water, sewerage and 108 new live-in units for our defence personnel. The United States Department of Defense reportedly also plans to spend more than $400 million on developing naval and air force facilities in the Northern Territory over the next few years.

It's very important that Territorians are able to have a go at that work and are able to tender to allow local companies and workers to benefit from these huge projects. The Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price, has guaranteed that defence's managing contractor will be required to maximise the involvement of local industry from the Katherine region and wider Northern Territory. She said that hundreds of locals will benefit from subcontract packages and supply chain work. For those companies, I draw your attention to the fact that a public information session will be held on 4 March in Darwin, to allow companies to ask questions about what is involved and how they might get a look-in.

I mention my concerns about whether Territory companies will be able to get a look-in because, to my great disappointment and that of many members of the Territory business community, a defence contract in Darwin has been given to a state owned foreign company, when at least three local companies could have done that work. We are right to have our concerns about this. (Time expired)

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