The detailed economic study also found that the Bushmaster vehicle program is currently supporting 1,100 jobs, but employment will fall in coming years as orders and production decline on the original Australian Defence Force Bushmaster program.
The analysis conducted by ACIL Tasman was the first detailed assessment of the economic contribution of Project Bushranger to Bendigo, Victoria and Australia, taking both direct and indirect benefits into account, Managing Director of Thales Australia, Chris Jenkins, said.
"This detailed report underlines the value through the whole supply chain of designing, manufacturing and supporting these Protected Mobility Vehicles in Australia.
"As well as the direct employment by Thales on the production line in Bendigo, the study looked at the broader economic benefits, including the supply chain of Australian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)."
The report found many of the 120 Australian suppliers to the Bushmaster vehicle production reported significant additional benefits from involvement in the project, including:
· Improved ability to export;
· Sustained productivity improvements;
· Improved capability to supply the Department of Defence;
· Technology transfer;
· Improved management practices.
"The economy-wide impact of the project is in excess of $1 billion, and next year will be generating more than 900 additional jobs in the Bendigo area and 1,100 across Australia compared to a scenario where vehicles were imported," Jenkins said.
Land 121 Ph 4
Stay tuned for information coming from the Queensland Government about how production in that part of the world for Ph 4 would help out the Queensland economy.