National Industry Meeting in Wangaratta
09-April-2010
The Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, attended an important defence industry meeting at Bruck Textiles in Wangaratta today. The meeting focused on the important role that defence related businesses have in maintaining and developing and indigenous manufacturing capability.
“Defence manufacturing is critical to the development of key manufacturing technology, skills training and renewal” said Sophie Mirabella, Shadow Minister for Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology.
“It’s great to see a political leader getting out there and discussing important national issues face to face with industry leaders on their home turf.
“Tony Abbott is in the community, on the ground, listening to hundreds of people across regional Australia.” Mrs Mirabella continued.
The meeting also focused on the key concerns and challenges of Australian manufacturing. Recent revelations that the Rudd Government planned to allow the sourcing of defence fabric from China caused a national outcry before the decision was overturned.
Representatives from defence manufacturing organisations were concerned that the handing over of tenders to China creates even less incentive to invest in much needed research and development in Australia. There was also a common feeling among the industry representatives that the Defence Material Organisation (DMO) bureaucracy was too large and that “there are a lot of people who are allowed to say no, but not enough who can say yes”.
Mrs Mirabella stated that “Labor’s reckless cash splash did nothing to assist the manufacturing sector and we are still waiting for the Governments vision about a viable Australian manufacturing sector.
“It is vital that we retain defence material manufacturing capabilities here in Australia, not only to support local jobs, but also for strategic reasons.” Mrs Mirabella concluded.