Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Henderson for her question and also for her tireless support for defence industry in her home state and across the nation. The Morrison government remains resolutely committed to delivering in ADF capability and also to backing in Australian defence industry throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Our actions are focused in three main areas: firstly, supporting our sovereign industrial capability; secondly, supporting our nation's essential skills, trades and expertise; and, thirdly, supporting our domestic and international supply chains.

To ensure we respond quickly to emerging issues in defence industry, Minister Price and I hold weekly teleconferences with Defence, defence industry CEOs, peak industry bodies and also state and territory advocates. And because of our swift action to support defence industry, since 23 March over $4.7 billion of payments have been made early to defence industry here in Australia. With that payment, I conveyed very strongly my expectations to primes that those early payments must be passed on to small and medium enterprises. I am delighted that that is exactly what they are doing.

This action is supporting over 15,000 Australian companies in the defence supply chain and, most importantly, it is supporting 70,000 Australian livelihoods during this time. Vital defence industry activities are also continuing during COVID-19. For example, Chemring Australia, based near Geelong, secured a US contract to produce countermeasure flares for global F-35 Joint Strike Fighter fleet. The rollout of the first Loyal Wingman aircraft occurred. We commissioned the build of six new Cape Class vessels in Western Australia, and we've also shifted Land 400 Phase 3 roadshows online to ensure Australian businesses have the opportunity to pitch their capability. (Time expired)