Khaki jobs explosion: $1 billion defence injection
A khaki job revolution will be spurred on by a $1 billion injection into defence to shore up 4000 jobs across the country in a bid to combat rising unemployment.
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A khaki job revolution will be spurred on by a $1 billion injection into defence to shore up 4000 jobs across the country in a bid to combat rising unemployment.
It includes increasing hours for currently serving army reservists who may have lost their jobs or lost hours during COVID-19, recruiting an additional 500 reservists and fast-tracking upgrades to RAAF bases.
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Queensland’s aerospace industry will get a boost, with jobs for maintaining the C27-J transport jet at Amberley and developing a new drone to accompany fighter jets also on the cards.
Ex-Qantas and Virgin engineering and technical workers are expected to get 37 of the maintenance jobs with the C27-J, split between Amberley and Richmond RAAF bases.
Another $110 million in grants for the Australian defence industries businesses, to go towards developing new technologies skills training and buy new equipment.
About 2200 of the 4000 jobs will come from construction as ageing RAAF bases are upgraded, including Amberley.
It is in addition to or building on the $270 billion over 10 years outlined in the Defence White Paper earlier last month.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) said as well as helping reservists who were doing it tough from COVID-19, the cash would help create “high-paying, high-skilled” jobs in Australian defence industries.
“We want to build our sovereign industrial capabilities and Australian workforce to keep our people safe,” he said.
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said the $1 billion was fast-tracking infrastructure, training and equipment initiatives over the next two years.
There will be 210,000 additional days for up to 27,000 reservists, or the equivalent of seven days each, while the 500 new recruits would get about 50 days each.
There will be 145 jobs design, engineering and manufacturing jobs in the Boeing Loyal Wingman drone program, some of which will be based in Queensland.
A range of other jobs around the country will be created including for modernising the navy uniform, upgrading the Bushmaster armoured vehicle and weapons purchases.
