Labor’s False Claims on Defence

Shadow Minister for Industry, Ryan Smith

After ignoring the defence industry for over a year, Minister Lily D’Ambrosio today issued a media release full of figures she knows to be dodgy.

The media release stated that the defence sector in Victoria contributes up to “$8 billion to Victoria’s economy”, however, a document leaked from the Minister’s office confirms the flaky nature of this figure.

“The report has used rudimentary economic analysis… to reach the economic value of $4.4–7.9 billion”.

“The $7.9 billion is the upper figure… as precise data is lacking, a range was provided with that upper figure representing a very broad qualification of what constitutes the Victorian defence industry”.

The leaked briefing casts doubt on claims made in the Andrews Government’s still unreleased Defence Industry Strategy, also noting “broad assumptions were required to correlate national spend that could be deemed of economic benefit to Victoria.”

A further leaked briefing note to the Minister shows that BAE Systems met with her Department on July last year, highlighting the potential for further job losses. Since then, there is no evidence that the Minister has actually done anything to secure jobs in the industry.

The Andrews Government has failed to release a Defence Industry Strategy before today’s release of the Federal Government’s Defence White Paper, leaving Victoria at a disadvantage compared to South Australia and New South Wales when competing for defence industry projects and jobs. This is despite the fact that a full draft of her Defence Industry Strategy was leaked to the media in December last year.

At PAEC hearing in 2015, Minister D’Ambrosio was unable to answer basic questions about defence industry procurement projects.

Quotes attributable to Ryan Smith, Shadow Minister for Industry

“Lily D’Ambrosio’s own briefing notes show that’s she more interested in spinning dodgy numbers than creating real jobs with a real defence industry strategy.”

“After a year of talking by Daniel Andrews, Victoria has missed the boat on defence industry jobs.”

“The Federal Defence White Paper is a once in a generation chance to bring defence industry jobs to Victoria, and Labor’s only response is a brief media release full of dodgy figures.”

Media:   James Duncan     0457 758 018      james.duncan@opposition.vic.gov.au