THE state and federal governments have traded fire over Land 400, sparked by the demotion of a Victorian MP in the federal government\u2019s cabinet reshuffle.<\/p>\n
The race to secure the $5 billion dollar contract to build 225 armoured vehicles is down to two companies.<\/p>\n
Rheinmetall will set up shop in Queensland if it wins, while BAE Systems will base its headquarters in Melbourne but also employ Marand to build hulls and turrets for its AMV35 vehicle in the former Ford factory in Geelong.<\/p>\n
Last week, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the reshuffle, which resulted in more Queensland Nationals in the cabinet and the dumping of Nationals MP Darren Chester as Assistant Minister for Defence, among other changes.<\/p>\n
In a media release following the announcement, Victorian Minister for Trade and Investment Philip Dalidakis said the Prime Minister was ignoring Victoria and that \u201cinstead of being awarded on merit, it looks increasingly likely that (Land 400) will go to Queensland as a naked pork barrelling exercise designed to help save Coalition seats at the next federal election.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis project is too important to be the plaything of a Prime Minister desperate to save his political skin in Queensland.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile Malcolm Turnbull may have silenced Darren Chester, he won\u2019t silence Victoria \u2013 we\u2019ll continue to lobby for Land 400 because we know that our state is best equipped to deliver the project.\u201d<\/p>\n
In response, Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson said she was disappointed in Mr Dalidakis\u2019 remarks, noting that she and Mr Dalidakis had jointly announced Marand\u2019s involvement in Land 400 just over a month ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe comments by the Victorian Trade and Investment Minister are ill informed, misguided and undermine the strong collaboration that is required to win this $5 billion defence contract for Victoria.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no place for partisan politicking.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Turnbull government\u2019s commitment to manufacturing jobs in Victoria is second to none. We are delivering record jobs growth and investing tens of millions of dollars in manufacturing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE state and federal governments have traded fire over Land 400, sparked by the demotion of a Victorian MP in the federal government\u2019s cabinet reshuffle. The race to secure the $5 billion dollar contract to build 225 armoured vehicles is down to two companies. Rheinmetall will set up shop in Queensland if it wins, while […]<\/p>\n