Henderson fires back on Land 400

CORANGAMITE federal member Sarah Henderson has fired back on Victoria’s failed Land 400 bid, saying she had no regrets about her advocacy for the project.

Last week, the federal government announced Rheinmetall’s Queensland-based bid was the preferred prime for the $5 billion armoured vehicle contract, beating on the Victorian-based BAE Systems bid that would have been largely based in Fishermans Bend but have hulls and turrets built in Geelong.

The state government has attributed at least some of the blame to Ms Henderson, but the Liberal MP said she did everything she could to boost Victoria’s chances and that state Labor did not do enough.

“One thing the people of Corangamite can’t criticise me for is fighting for them. I fought for them, on this project, solidly for four years.”

Labor was quick to tie the decision to the federal Coalition’s need to protect marginal seats in Queensland, but Ms Henderson rejected any suggestion of a political motive.

“The fact of the matter is that this vehicle was chosen on soldier safety and capability,” she said.

She said Queensland’s initial offer of $200 million to host Rheinmetall’s bid was better than Victoria’s $10 million bid, and that state Labor had made a major mistake by only backing one of the primes instead of both.

“As soon as Victoria allowed Rheinmetall to slip through its fingers, we immediately only had a 50-50 chance of securing this contract. That is what killed our bid in Victoria.

“If we had secured both primes, which is what was expected would happen, then Victoria would have had this contract.

“Avalon would have been a perfect place, but the Andrews government were absolutely – in my view, wrongly – fixated on Fishermans Bend.”

Liberal Member for Western Victoria Simon Ramsay agreed that Victoria was out-lobbied on Land 400, but said he was also disappointed with the federal Coalition.

“There is no other way of saying it. This is a very disappointing decision.

“Despite the high expectations of a Victorian success, it would appear the politics at the National Security Cabinet won the day.

“The jobs and investment that have just passed by Geelong will be hard to find elsewhere anytime soon.

“However, this hole now opens up an opportunity for the Turnbull Government. If it won’t give Geelong this break, what will it do?”