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

I'm very proud of the work Defence as also Minister Price is doing to assist defence industry in this very difficult time. Defence has fast-tracked nearly $7 billion of invoices to Australian defence industry to help mitigate the impacts of COVID-19, particularly on their workforces. This is not only enabling Australian companies to retain their staff but also to employ other workers who have been impacted by COVID-19. For example, Airbus Australia and Northrop Grumman Australia have taken on more than 100 civil aviation sector engineers and technicians to support maintenance and operations of our ADF aircraft fleets.

The Naval Shipbuilding College is working closely with industries affected by COVID-19 to assist their workers reskill for careers in naval shipbuilding. To date over 2½ thousand people have signed up to the Naval Shipbuilding College workforce register to undertake this training. During this time more than 300 new companies have entered the— (Time expired)