Bennelong by-election: PM Malcolm Turnbull to pledge $20m Australian Defence contract to Raytheon

WITH polls continuing to ­indicate the Coalition is locked in a tight electoral race with Labor’s star candidate Kristina Keneally, the Liberal campaign will be given a double-barrel by-election boost today.

THE Liberal campaign in Bennelong will be given a double-barrel by-election boost today with major defence contractor Raytheon set to hire 50 new staff in the northern Sydney electorate to work on ­advanced warships.

With polls continuing to ­indicate the Coalition is locked in a tight electoral race with Labor’s star candidate Kristina Keneally, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will be in Bennelong today alongside Liberal candidate John Alexander to announce the new jobs push, which is part of a $20 million Australian Defence contract to Raytheon.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was with Bennelong candidate John Alexander on Tuesday. Picture: Carly Earl

The tight polling result ahead of Saturday’s by-election shocked Liberal insiders who had considered the ­momentum in the seat to be on the side of Mr Alexander, the sitting MP who resigned after it became unclear whether he was a dual British citizen.

Mr Turnbull and former tennis champion Mr Alexander will be joined by Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne to announce the contract, which is connected to the $9.1 billion Air Warfare ­Destroyer project.

The first vessel from that project was launched in May 2015.

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Daily Telegraph columnist Miranda Devine with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for the first Miranda Live radio show at News Corp Australia’s Surry Hills office on Monday. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“This is yet another example of the Turnbull government creating jobs in Bennelong, and a result of the strong advocacy of John Alexander,” Mr Turnbull told The Daily Telegraph.

“The overall sustainment of the new Air Warfare Destroyers is expected to generate more than 200 jobs in Sydney with further subcontracts to be finalised next year as the ­Destroyer Enterprise matures.

“In addition to drawing on the work of local SMEs, the roles generated from this contract will require highly skilled engineers, technicians, procurement specialists and program managers, all of whom can draw upon the decade of expertise that has been built at Raytheon Australia’s Naval Sustainment Hub in Macquarie Park.”

Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten and Labor candidate for Bennelong Kristina Keneally on the campaign trail on Tuesday. Picture: Mick Tsikas

BAE Systems Australia will manage the initial $20 million subcontract, while Raytheon Australia will integrate the ­destroyers’ combat systems.

The defence jobs ann­ouncement follows a $100 million Coalition funding vow to help build a major transport hub in the electorate.

Ms Keneally and Labor leader Bill Shorten quickly matched that pledge, made last month, with construction to begin in 2020 after the Sydney Metro rail line is open.

Polling published by The Australian on Tuesday showed an unchanged result to an earlier poll commissioned by The Saturday Telegraph at the ­beginning of the campaign, which showed the candidates tied at 50-50 on a two-party-preferred basis.