Melissa McIntosh (Lindsay, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'd like to thank my colleague the member for Stirling for bringing this important motion to parliament, because the defence of our nation is of critical importance. That's why we're investing $270 billion in Australia's defence capability over the next decade, building a stronger, more resilient and more secure Australia. This is an investment to keep Australians safe and, in the process, to create more jobs. Our investment in our national defence industry ensures members of the Australian Defence Force have access to the highest quality Australian made capability to keep them safe and to protect our nation. The Morrison government will continue to maximise opportunities for our local businesses to contribute to the defence industry.

In my electorate of Lindsay we have extraordinary potential to build on manufacturing expertise, experience and enthusiasm. Recently, with the Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, I convened a meeting of my Advancing Manufacturing Taskforce. Every facet of this enthusiasm was apparent at this meeting. We met at a family business, Baker & Provan, in St Marys to discuss building our workforce and equipping it with the skills we need to enable our businesses to grow, employ and support more local jobs.

From universities to manufacturers, innovators, entrepreneurs and experts right across many industries, we're bringing together the pieces of the puzzle, all united on a single purpose. There is a great, razor-sharp focus on growing our manufacturing industry, particularly advanced manufacturing. At the forefront of this is our defence industry. We recognise the potential in Western Sydney. That's why we're delivering unprecedented levels of investment in infrastructure that our communities need. If you need any indication of the private sector's commitment to manufacturing in Western Sydney, look no further than Visy's commitment in Penrith earlier this year, with the Prime Minister and me, of $2 billion to their Australian operations.

As a former member of the Australian Defence Force himself, the minister for employment also recognises the importance of investing in our nation's sovereign capability. This task force meeting at Baker & Provan, who contribute to some of our most significant defence projects, such as the Collins class submarines, was an appropriate demonstration of our commitment not only to Australian manufacturing but to our national defence industry. Our policies are enabling businesses like Baker & Provan to do what they do best, and our wage subsidies are helping our manufacturers to take on more apprentices. The extension of the instant asset write-off, available to over 15,000 businesses in my electorate of Lindsay, is supporting businesses to buy the equipment they need to grow and expand.

All of this, and more, not only creates and sustains more local jobs but is contributing to the building of a more resilient and secure Australia. In building a strong and sustainable Australian defence industry, the Morrison government recognises the need for Australian businesses to have the opportunity to be involved in all aspects, including design, construction, project management and sustainment activities. That's why our government mandated that tenders must demonstrate how they will maximise Australian industry capability over the life of a project, and each tender must meet the Australian content requirement.

The Australian defence industry is also growing by taking up opportunities in global supply chains for new capability like the Joint Strike Fighter program. Currently, over 50 Australian companies are involved in the JSF program, sharing $2.7 billion in production contracts. These are opportunities for local businesses to play a bigger role in the defence industry. I also recently visited the defence establishment in Orchard Hills in my electorate, where we're investing in the Nulka missile assembly and maintenance facilities. This decoy missile has one of the world's most sophisticated electronic defence systems for the protection of warships against antiship missiles. This is happening right in my electorate of Lindsay. Around 200 people will be employed over the course of construction, with a commitment from the company ensuring 95 per cent of local industry participation for the supply of goods and services for the project.

This is what we are doing. This is what we're committed to. We are building innovation in Australia right in our local communities. I couldn't be prouder that I've got local businesses like Baker & Provan involved and that this is also happening at the local defence establishment in Orchard Hills. It will shape our strategic environment and deepen our connection to our defence industry. (Time expired)

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