George Brandis (Queensland, Liberal Party, Attorney-General) Share this | Hansard source

I alluded earlier to the fact that this agreement will not only improve the ADF's capabilities and benefit Australia's technology future but also create jobs for Australians and, in particular—and I know, Senator McKenzie, how proud you are of this—jobs in regional Victoria. The agreement with Thales will create 170 new jobs in Bendigo and another 60 jobs elsewhere in Victoria. That is very significant for the Bendigo region. Production is expected to commence in early 2016 as production of the Bushmaster winds down. That will allow the highly skilled Bendigo workforce to be at full production rate for the Hawkei in 2018.

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.