Victorian bid wins key national defence industry project
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20 December 2007
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In an Australian first, the Victorian Government has secured a multi-million-dollar Defence Force Technology Centre.
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Victorian Industry and Trade Minister Theo Theophanous said the successful bid for the Australian Defence Force’s new national Defence Future Capability Technology Centre at Fisherman’s Bend highlighted Victoria’s outstanding defence industry capabilities and would deliver major economic and technological benefits for the State.
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“The $82 million centre will have a Melbourne headquarters and will directly create 38 local jobs with around 60 per cent of Australia’s defence technology research and development activity now set to take place in Victoria,” Mr Theophanous said.
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“New and enhanced capabilities developed as a result of the new centre will see Victorian companies involved in around $100 million worth of new domestic and international defence projects.
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“And the research undertaken will lead to many flow-on benefits for local industry including the development of spin-off technology for commercial applications and the establishment of a new facility in Victoria that will develop hi-tech nano-coatings for machine cutting tools.
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“It comes on top of other recent successes including Tenix Marine’s amphibious ships contract, worth $500m to Victoria, and Thales’ 250-vehicle ADF Bushmaster contract worth $300 million.”
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Mr Theophanous said the Victorian defence industry employed over 10,500 people in 2006-07, generated gross revenue of around $2 billion and exported over $310 million of products and services.
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