The Opposition welcomes closer collaboration with the United States on guided weapons, but once again we have an announcement from Labor that fails to deliver any new capability to the Australian Defence Force in the here and now. 

After years of reviews and re-announcements, Labor still has not delivered a single guided weapon produced on Australian soil. While our strategic circumstances continue to deteriorate, the Government’s progress on sovereign missile manufacturing remains stalled.

It was confirmed last week in Senate Estimates, that the Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Enterprise has produced more cookbooks for Harmony Day than missiles. Now, today we get an announcement of intent for a potential future agreement. This is an agreement to make an agreement.

After three years of Government announcements on missile manufacturing the Government still has nothing to show for it. 

Australia needs less cookbooks for bureaucrats, and more missile production lines for local industry.

Australia’s GWEO enterprise should be an important second source of supply of missiles to the United States and our other allies, creating thousands of jobs for Australians and an entirely new export industry for our economy, the likes of which we have never seen in the history of our defence industry. 

This announcement is a pathetic substitute for action ahead of the Prime Minister’s meeting with the American President. 

Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Defence, the Hon. Angus Taylor MP:

“Defence officials have confirmed that Australia faces the most dangerous strategic environment since World War II. Yet Labor is failing to deliver the funding and capabilities to match the threats we face.”

“Labor’s chronic underfunding of Defence risks leaving Australia exposed and our ADF ill-equipped to defend our nation and our region.”

“Australia must bolster itself as an additional source of guided weapons and explosive ordnance for the US and our other partners. This was why the Coalition committed to establishing the GWEO enterprise as an expanded industry for Australia. Under his leadership Anthony Albanese has let this enterprise die on the vine.”

“Australia must move beyond the rhetoric. Labor must lift Defence spending to at least 3 per cent of GDP and back its promises with a budget that can actually deliver them.”

Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Defence Industry and Defence Personnel, the Hon. Melissa Price MP:

“The Coalition supports deeper defence industry cooperation with the United States, but that cooperation must also deliver real jobs and industrial growth here in Australia.”

“Australian businesses should be at the centre of our missile manufacturing efforts, not watching opportunities drift offshore. This is supposed to be about sovereign capability.”

“After three years of talk, Australians are still waiting to see a missile roll off a local production line. Labor must ensure that our industry, our workers and our supply chains are genuinely part of this effort.”

ENDS.