Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We need more pioneers like Brumby Aircraft Australia at Cowra in the west of my electorate. In the winter recess, I had the fortune of witnessing the signing of a 40-year joint venture contract between Brumby and the giant Chinese aviation company AVIC. A key plank of the agreement is the sale to China of 280 small aircraft. Brumby is a family company, owned and operated by father and son Phil and Paul Goard. They have pursued a dream with precision and with immense pride in their product. Needless to say, the contract is lucrative. It signals the start of a massive period of growth for Brumby Aircraft Australia, doubling the size of the factory at Cowra and quadrupling the size of the local workforce where the company will be continuing design and some manufacture of the aircraft. The next step will be the establishment of a worldwide company to be known as Fujian Brumby Aircraft Manufacturing. Team leaders from China will be arriving to learn the ropes. The first aircraft could be supplied to AVIC as early as late 2014. Director Paul Goard says that while other companies shrug their shoulders, Brumby Aircraft Australia realised that Asia was the focus. I often speak about the enormous opportunities for Australian companies in fast growing markets in Asia. This is where we see our trading future, particularly in China, and I am delighted that a local firm from my electorate is stepping up to show other Aussie companies the way forward.