Key components for the Royal Australian Navy鈥檚 next generation of anti-ship missiles will be built in Djilang/Geelong, the government announced in February.
Peace campaigners argue that engineering firms should instead be awarded grants to manufacture聽components for the climate transition.
Geelong-based engineering firm 聽was聽awarded the contract from Kongsberg Defence Australia to build launch ramps systems for the Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile.
The fifth generation of long-range, precision strike weapons will replace older anti-ship missiles on the Royal Australian Navy鈥檚 ANZAC Class Frigates and Hobart Class Destroyers, according to .聽The contract 鈥渨ill also leverage鈥 a聽grant received last聽August 2022 under the 鈥淢odern Manufacturing Initiative focused on Welding Excellence鈥.
鈥淭his is precisely how governments get away with their 鈥榝orever war鈥 policies,鈥 John Quelch from the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network told 91自拍论坛.
鈥淲ith the demise of manufacturing jobs across the country over the past three decades, particularly in Geelong, it鈥檚 no mistake聽this community is targeted.
鈥淣o doubt, 鈥楳inister for War鈥 Richard Marles had a great deal to do with the decision to base it in his own electorate. He is sure to be in town when the factory opens for the photo opportunity!鈥
The ramps will be fabricated at Marand鈥檚 new facility inside the old Ford tool room on Melbourne Road. Marand designs and manufactures products for the defence, aerospace, mining, rail and energy industries. Its customers include Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Boeing, BHP Billiton聽and Rio Tinto.
Quelch believes metal shops in Djilang聽should instead be manufacturing components for the climate transition.
鈥淭he city could be a leader in renewable technologies, including wind, wave and solar. It would create lot more jobs and not help put this country on the way to war with China, as the AUKUS pact is doing.鈥