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

Thank you, Senator McMahon, for the question. I particularly thank you for your support for defence industry in the Northern Territory. A key priority was to secure new outcomes for Australian industry and also for Australian workers, outcomes that build on the 15,000 Australian businesses and 70,000 Australian workers already benefiting from our investment in defence. At AUSMIN we agreed to reduce barriers to industrial based integration, including Australian participation in US supply chains. There is no better example of this than the 50 Australian companies that are already contributing to the global F-35 program. On this side of the chamber, we are committed to further developing our bilateral defence trade and to working together on export controls. Greater maintenance repairs and overhaul of US platforms in Australia will mutually strengthen our capabilities and also our resilience.