University of Melbourne signs deal with BAE Systems

IN a coup for Victoria’s education and jobs market, the University of Melbourne has secured a deal with defence company BAE Systems.

OUR next generation of defence engineering experts will get hands-on experience of cutting-edge military manufacturing if a $5 billion military contract is secured in Victoria.

In a coup for education and jobs, the University of Melbourne has signed a deal with BAE Systems that would see students trained as part of the lucrative Land 400 contract.

The agreement would allow engineering students access to hi-tech equipment and testing facilities at a new Fishermans Bend defence hub, and build on the state’s manufacturing reputation.

The Andrews Government and BAE Systems will join university vice-chancellor Glyn Davis to announce the initiative today, as part of the final push to secure the military ­vehicle building contract.

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The AMV-35 defence vehicle are part of a proposed defence contract. Picture: AAP

The bid by BAE Systems is going head-to-head with German giant Rheinmetall, which wants to set up in Queensland.

As pointed out by its own federal MPs, Queensland does not have a defence manufacturing history, while Victoria has up to 400 defence businesses employing 7000 people.

The University of Melbourne has signed a deal with BAE Systems.

If secured in Victoria, the contract could be worth an extra $1 billion for the economy, and some MPs say it is a less risky proposition because of the existing level of expertise available.

Acting state Trade and Investment Minister Ben Carroll said: “Victoria has the proven experience and the skills needed to build these vehicles and keep our troops safe”.

Chief executive of BAE Systems Australia, Gabby Costigan, said the company was ready to deliver.

“By partnering with universities we will enable students to leverage our world-class expertise and build the skilled workforce for the future. We hope that many Australian students will also benefit from this,” she said.

Fishermans Bend will be the base for BAE to deliver 225 combat reconnaissance vehicles to army, if it wins the rights to the project.

Mr Davis said the memorandum would provide a new platform for future research and collaboration.

“It makes our new campus at Fishermans Bend an even more attractive proposition for students,” he said.

A decision on the Land 400 contract is likely next month.

Furious lobbying has been taking place in recent weeks.

Some MPs are concerned that a federal committee set to decide on the contract has no Victorian MPs on it, and that politics could skew decision-making processes. Queensland is likely to have more marginal federal seats in play than Victoria at the next election.

The northern state has signed up celebrities to help push its campaign, while Victoria has focused on its expertise in defence manufacturing.