By Luke Voogt
Two companies vying for a $5 billion defence contract are willing to work in Geelong but the Andrews Government wants them in Melbourne instead, they have told the Indy.
Their interest in Geelong contrasts a statement from Victorian Industry Minister Wade Noonan that a disused Holden site at Fisherman’s Bend was the company’s “preferred Victorian location” if they won the Land 400 contract.
Rheinmetall Defence Australia boss Andrew Fletcher said his company had no site preference but Geelong had been “an important focus throughout the Land 400 selection process”.
“Geelong offers a capability, depth and expertise across a range of companies that many regions in Australia find hard to match,” he told the Indy yesterday.
Mr Fletcher met numerous companies in Geelong during Land 400 road shows in 2015 and 2016, he said.
“We look forward to working with Geelong companies to deliver the Land 400 Phase 2 program should we be successful.”
BAE’s Brian Gathright said the Geelong’s disused Ford Factory was still an option for the Land 400 project to build army combat vehicles.
“We’ve toured the site previously … it certainly has the space necessary for production.”
“We have not identified a preferred site. We are still exploring multiple sites within Victoria as well multiple sites throughout the country.”
Mr Gathright said Geelong could score supply-chain jobs regardless of where the company locates manufacturing, if it wins the bid.
“We’ve been working with Geelong-based companies and Australian companies for 60 years – we could be based on the moon and still use solutions based in Geelong.”
Fisherman’s Bend is in the marginal state seat of Albert Park, which Labor holds by 53 to 47 per cent, two-party preferred. Labor also holds the suburb’s federal seat, Melbourne Ports, by 51.38 to 48.62 per cent in 2016.
The disused Ford factory is in the safe state and federal seats of Lara and Corio respectively.
The preferred bid site ignited a war of words between politicians in Geelong last week, with Labor accusing local Liberals of raising false hopes that Geelong could win the project.
Liberals accused Labor of betraying Geelong and favouring Melbourne.
Victoria faces competition for Land 400 from South Australia, which has put enticements worth $100 million behind its bid.
The Victorian Government has yet to confirm any funding to help win the contract.
