Qld tank contract fires up Vic
MALCOLM Turnbull has denied the decision to award a Queensland-based company a $5 billion defence deal was political.
Mr Turnbull visited Brisbane’s Gallipoli Barracks yesterday with Defence Minister Marise Payne and Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne to announce the contract.
German-owned Rheinmetall Defence Australia – based in Queensland – has won phase two of the $5 billion Land 400 deal to build 211 combat reconnaissance vehicles at Ipswich.
“What we’re doing today is ensuring that you have the vehicle that will enable you to complete your missions with the best capabilities, the greatest lethality, but also will protect you and ensure that when you have completed your mission that you will come home safely,” Mr Turnbull said.
The Boxer will replace the ageing Australian Light Armoured Vehicle used in overseas combat.
The “highly lethal” vehicle can withstand a direct bomb attack and has cannons that can let rip 200 rounds of ammunition a minute.
The Boxer can also defend itself by using a pulse to blow up an incoming missile.
The PM said choosing Queensland was a “very, very clear choice” and unambiguous.
The project will significantly help to diversify Queensland’s economy, create almost 1500 jobs across Australia and wash $10 billion through defence supply chains.
Queensland was awarded the contract over Victoria and BAE Systems Australia.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews went on a furious Twitter rant, accusing the federal Coalition government of betraying jobless car workers for a second time.
Mr Andrews said the Coalition had handed the work to Queensland to shore up nine marginal seats there.
“We were best placed to build these vehicles that would defend our nation but we couldn’t provide the electoral boost that would defend Malcolm Turnbull’s career,” he wrote.