Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Fawcett for his question and his interest. This is a very significant investment by the Australian government in Army capability, a significant advance in defence capability that will change the way that Army fights. Last week, with the Prime Minister and the Minister for Defence Industry, I announced that Rheinmetall will deliver 211 new Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicles, which will be built in Queensland, creating up to 1,450 jobs right across Australia.

We live in a world of continually advancing and emerging threats. Anti-armour weapons and improvised explosive devices are becoming more lethal and more prolific. To survive in what are very hazardous operational environments, the new generation Australian armoured vehicles have to do several very important things: they have to be able to take a heavy hit, they have to be able to keep fighting and they have to be able to take our soldiers home safely. That's what this new vehicle will deliver. The cutting-edge capability of the Boxer will give Australian troops increased protection, increased firepower and increased mobility on the battlefield over the ageing ASLAV, which it will replace. They're not only much tougher than their predecessors but also much smarter. They will have digital-warfare and information-networking capabilities that our forces have not had before. They'll give our commanders a much better understanding of the battlefield, which will help them to fight, to survive and to win.

What the Turnbull government have laid out is our commitment to ensuring that the men and women of the ADF have the capability that is required to complete the often difficult and very dangerous tasks that we ask them to undertake on behalf of the Australian government.