Cairns case for Defence
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SEVERAL Cairns small businesses could be given the opportunity to benefit from the $5 billion Land 400 Phase 2 contract awarded to Queensland-based armoured personnel carrier manufacturer Rheinmetall Defence Australia.
Cairns’s Redcat Industries was one of the big winners in the announcement made yesterday about the building of 280 new Boxer 280 combat reconnaissance vehicles.
The business manufactures an internationally-patented, Australian-designed and -manufactured, loose-wheel indicator restrainer system.
Manager Ron Mason will attend an event today in Brisbane with State Government and RDA representatives to celebrate securing the contract.
“Currently, Redcat provides around 70,000 wheel safety devices to Defence for medium to heavy vehicles,” Mr Mason said.
“Although Land 121 Phase 3b calls for 2700 new vehicles, in total we are looking at around 5000 new vehicles, so we have a long way to go.
“We are advocating a complete rollout across the entire Australian defence industry to include G Wagons, Bushmasters and Hawkeyes as well as ancillary units. In our concept, by visually identifying the loose wheel and then stopping it from loosening further, you dramatically increase the opportunity for identification and resolution, improving safety and efficiency. No one wants to see a defence vehicle with our troops on board lose a wheel while under fire.”
Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch said many Cairns businesses served the navy and he encouraged owners to talk to RDA about what they could offer.
“They will be looking for other suppliers so there is another opportunity there for small businesses,” he said.
“One of the good things about this was everybody singing from the same hymn book.”
Cairns MP Michael Healy said Redcat Industries was one of four Queensland businesses working with RDA.
“This means more work for Cairns locals and more highskill jobs in the local community for years to come,” he said.