Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence Materiel) Share this | Hansard source

I would indicate, Senator Pratt, that every working day the DMO is spending some $45 million. This year it will spend more than $10 billion, and 54 per cent of that, $5½ billion, will actually be spent in Australia. So defence procurement is in fact vital for our manufacturing base in this country. It supports some 27,000 jobs. It builds skills in industrial capabilities and it generates spin-off innovations that benefit many other manufacturing industries.

These are some of the most creative and ambitious firms that operate in this country. We want them to grow and we want them to be able to integrate more effectively into international supply chains. So we want them to diversify and to find opportunities in other sectors outside of defence. Just as our athletes do not face global competition without training and support, nor should our firms. We are working with our manufacturing firms to build on their strengths, and I am absolutely confident— (Time expired)