Media Release

KAP Leader and the Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter MP asked the Minister for Defence a question without notice today in Parliament regarding the Australian Government’s decision to purchase Australian Defence Force goods from overseas and thus not supporting Australian manufacturing and Australian jobs.

Another Defence Force tender, this time for boots, has been awarded to a company which will manufacture the goods overseas.

“Will the Government support Rossi and the Senate’s demand for a full scale inquiry into procurement? Or remain free market, the policy destroying Australia’s manufacturing and gutting Australia’s sinews of war,” Mr Katter said in his question to the Minister for Defence.

Mr Katter pointed to a shameful history of the Australian Government awarding tenders for Defence Force goods to be manufactured overseas.

“Australian ordinance/ammunition is manufactured mainly by a French owned company. The slouch hat is partly foreign.

“Australian combat troops refuse to use the Austrian Steyr rifle they use the American Armalite which can be produced in Australia for half the price,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter is furious the Federal Government’s Defence Force procurement has awarded another contract overseas, denying Australian boot manufacturer - Rossi, the opportunity to make the boots in Australia and support Australian jobs.

Mr Katter is demanding the Government change their procurement process so that the process takes into account the economic benefit that Australian made products has for the Australian economy.

Mr Katter reminded the Government of an incident on Anzac Day involving foreign made boots in North Queensland.

“At ANZAC Day soldiers marched in their socks since the soles had fallen off their Chinese made boots,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter believes the Government’s Free Market zealotry is destroying our Australian Manufacturing industry and wants the Government to take into consideration the economic benefits that are far greater to the Australian economy than saving a few cents per unit on foreign made goods.

Question to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence

Australian combat troops refuse to use the Austrian Steyr rifle they use the American Armalite which can be produced in Australia for half the price.

At ANZAC Day, soldiers marched in their socks since the soles had fallen off their Chinese made boots.

Australian ordinance/ammunition is manufactured mainly by a French owned company. The slouch hat is partly foreign.

Will the Government support Rossi and the Senate’s demand for a full scale inquiry into procurement? Or remain free market, the policy destroying Australia’s manufacturing and gutting Australia’s sinews of war.