The Coalition’s decision to deliver the Howitzer defence project for Geelong, which was axed by the former Gillard Labor government, has reaped massive dividends for local defence manufacturing jobs.
Today I was delighted to attend the official opening of Hanwha’s Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) at Avalon.
This $170 million state-of-the-art defence facility is a game-changer, and testament to the Coalition’s commitment to hundreds of local defence jobs, Victoria’s defence industry and our national security.
In 2019, I was proud to join the then Minister for Defence, Linda Reynolds, to announce that a re-elected Coalition government would deliver the Howitzer defence project, and locate it in the Geelong region.
After fighting for so many years for local defence jobs, today’s opening is a dream come true.
Hanwha Defence Australia will produce the majority of 30 self-propelled Howitzers and 15 ammunition resupply vehicles at its Avalon facility, as well as 129 Redback infantry fighting vehicles under the Land 400 Phase 3 program for the Australian Army.
This multi-billion investment will bolster our nation’s sovereign defence capability and keep Australian soldiers safe.
Stage 1 of the H-ACE includes multiple assembly lines, a 1200-metre test track, a deep-water test facility, an obstacle course and a research and development centre.
It is expected that Land 400 Phase 3 will support 1,800 direct jobs and 2,100 indirect jobs, delivering major opportunities for Australian companies to participate in the defence supply chain.
It is, however, regrettable that both the Howitzer and Land 400 Phase 3 programs were savagely cut by Defence Minister Richard Marles as part of Labor’s 2023 Defence Strategic Review.
