Opening of Hanwha Defence Australia’s Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence

This is a wonderful moment. When we look back at this moment, it will be seen as one of the most significant days in Geelong’s economic history. We have been known as a builder of motor vehicles. Ford came here in 1928. And when Ford in 2013 announced that it would no longer be manufacturing motor vehicles in Geelong it at that point in time, employed about 900 people in our town. Today, we are opening this magnificent facility of Hanwha, phase one of the facilities which will ultimately be opened here. In this building, we will see the construction of 28 self-propelled howitzers, the Huntsman, and another 14 supply vehicles which operate with that. And they will join two other self-propelled howitzers which are being built in Korea right now, along with another supply vehicle. Those vehicles being built in Korea will be delivered to the Australian Army at the same time as construction of the vehicles commences here in just a few months’ time. That is a huge step. And this will, of course, join phase two of this facility, which will see the building of 129 infantry fighting vehicles, the Redbacks. 

When all of that is done, we will see this facility supporting 1,800 jobs in Geelong. It speaks to how significant this place will be in the industrial landscape of Geelong. But not just Geelong, the state of Victoria and, in fact, the country. But not only does this add to Geelong’s industry, of course, critically, it contributes to our nation's defence capability. The Huntsman and the Redbacks are going to make a huge difference for our Army. This building is being delivered two months ahead of schedule. The Redbacks are going to start entering our Defence Force in 2027, years ahead of what was originally intended. And this is an example of the Albanese Government's rebuilding of the Australian Defence Force and bringing capability forward into the near term, because we need that so importantly. 

Hanwha has already become very much a part of the industrial landscape of our town. We are seeing Hanwha as very much a part of the fabric of Geelong. But through Hanwha, we are also seeing another step being taken forward in the building of the relationship between Australia and the Republic of Korea – a relationship which has never been closer than it is today, a relationship which is cemented through defence industries, such as what we're seeing with Hanwha’s presence here, but a relationship which has a strategic dimension as well as our two countries work closer and closer together. Minister Seok, it really is an enormous honour to have you here and I have very much enjoyed my engagements with my ministerial counterparts and President Yoon of Korea. This is a fundamentally important bilateral relationship for Australia's future security. 

I'd like to thank those worked with Built, the company which has built this incredible facility. You've done an incredible job. And most of all, I want to thank those who are working at Hanwha. You know, your work is going to make a critical contribution to our defence capability. It will be Australian workers contributing to Australian sovereignty to keep Australian soldiers safe. And I want you all to know that in doing what you do right here, you will be making a critical contribution to our nation's capability and to keeping Australians safe. 

ENDS