$1bn cash splash in defence of jobs

A KHAKI job revolution will be spurred on by a $1bn injection into Defence to shore up 4000 jobs across the country in a bid to combat rising unemployment.

It includes increasing hours for serving army reservists who may have lost their jobs or lost hours during COVID-19, recruiting an additional 500 reservists and fast-tracking upgrades to RAAF bases.

Queensland’s aerospace industry will get a boost, with jobs for maintaining the C27-J transport jet at Amberley and developing a new drone to accompany fighter jets also on the cards.

Ex-qantas and Virgin engineering and technical workers are expected to get 37 of the maintenance jobs with the C27-J, split between Amberley and Richmond RAAF bases.

Another $110m in grants for the Australian Defence industries businesses will go towards developing new technologies, skills training and equipment.

About 2200 of the 4000 jobs will come from construction as ageing RAAF bases are upgraded, including Amberley. It is in addition to the $270bn over 10 years outlined in the Defence White Paper last month.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said as well as helping reservists who were doing it tough from COVID-19, the cash would help create “highpaying, high-skilled” jobs in Australian Defence industries.

“We want to build our sovereign industrial capabilities and Australian workforce to keep our people safe,” he said.

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said the $1bn was fast-tracking infrastructure, training and equipment initiatives over the next two years.