German and Korean companies have until July 31 to rework their bids after a review cut the number of armoured vehicles to be built for the Australian army.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese could visit Germany in July amid manoeuvring by German and Korean defence companies for a stripped-back, but still lucrative, contract to build armoured troop carriers.
The uncertainty has raised questions whether it is economically viable to build the vehicles in Australia or cheaper to import them from overseas. Hanwha is planning to build a factory near Melbourne’s Avalon airport to build the vehicles, but the company suffered a double blow when the DSR also axed a second tranche of self-propelled howitzers it was going to build.Despite the reduction in vehicle numbers, the German government continued to endorse Rheinmetall’s bid.
Former Australian ambassador to South Korea Bill Paterson last week warned that the DSR reductions over armoured vehicles – and a decision 10 years ago to cancel an earlier howitzer contract with Hanwha’s forerunner company – undercut Australia’s oft-repeated desire to build closer defence ties with Seoul.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Albanese wrongly claims new visas will start next monthPrime Minister Anthony Albanese is being accused of unfairly raising the hopes of young Australians and Brits by falsely claiming new visa arrangements would come into effect at the end of the month.
Read more »
Coalition can ‘never’ claim to be responsible economic managers: AlbanesePrime Minister Anthony Albanese says the Coalition can “never” lay claim to being responsible economic managers “ever again”. “The former government left a debt trap,” Mr Albanese said. “They left a trillion dollars of debt but without funding future programs … in so many areas where funding just stopped. “It’s just absurd what the former government did.”
Read more »
Albanese urges Coalition to back gas tax rise to sideline GreensGreens and teal independents want the oil and gas giants to be hit with a heftier tax increase than the ‘timid’ changes Labor has proposed.
Read more »
Coal stunt used on air to slam Albanese govt's temporary budget surplusA Nationals Senator used a coal stunt during his appearance on Sky News Australia to criticise Treasurer Jim Chalmers anticipated budget surplus, as he issued a challenge to Labor ahead of its release.
Read more »
NRL formally backs Albanese's Indigenous Voice to ParliamentThe NRL has become the first major football code to throw its support behind Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Yes campaign for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.
Read more »
Queensland ‘unicorn’ buys German start-up star in biggest deal yetBrisbane-based corporate training tech unicorn Go1 has closed the biggest deal in its history, to buy a popular German book and podcast summary subscription service.
Read more »