- Published:
- Monday 13 April 2015
Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Industry, Lily D’Ambrosio, today visited defence manufacturer Marand Precision Engineering to urge the Abbott Government to give Victorian defence manufacturing workers certainty.
Marand is a privately-owned Australian engineering company which has operated in Victoria for more than 45 years, employing 270 Victorians, across two sites.
The company services large international companies such as BAE Systems, Boeing and Lockheed Martin and is currently working on the USA based Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.
Victoria leads the nation in contributing to the JSF program, with 70 per cent of all work awarded to Australia over the past decade completed by Victorian companies. Marand has completed the most manufacturing work of all companies involved in the JSF program, with over $100 million in sales to date.
Victoria is home to 300 defence manufacturing businesses, employing 6,000 people.
Since being elected, the Abbott Government has done nothing for this vital industry except export defence jobs, particularly ship building jobs, overseas.
The defence technology industry is one of the six sectors that the Andrews Labor Government is targeting through the $200 million Future Industries Fund. The Fund will transition the Victorian economy through targeted strategies to grow Victorian industries, creating jobs and growth now and into the future.
The Premier will raise these issues with the Prime Minister at the Council of Australian Governments meeting this week.
Quotes attributable to Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews
“Our defence assets are the core of our national security. They’re paid for by Australian taxes, they should support Australian jobs.”
“Victoria has outstanding defence manufacturers, leading on the global stage. They have the capacity, they have the skills, they just need Tony Abbott to place the order.”
“We will fight for Victoria’s fair share of defence work and for the industry’s future in Australia.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry, Lily D’Ambrosio
“The $200 million Future Industries Fund will create jobs and growth in the defence technology industry now and into the future.”
“We’re getting on with boosting the industry. Our Defence Procurement Office based in Geelong will market the skills of Victorian manufacturers to the biggest defence contractors in the world.”