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Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited Aquaterro’s headquarters in Melbourne last week, reviewing Australia’s growing sovereign defence industry.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited the Aquaterro headquarters on 20 May, alongside Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs Jason Wood to review Australia's growing sovereign defence industry.
Aquaterro was founded 27 years ago, and provides equipment to soldiers across the defence spectrum. According to a company statement, Aquaterro undertakes a ‘hybrid approach’ to enable the company to manufacture leading defence brands in Australia, which is achieved by facilitating technology transfer agreements with international suppliers. The company also produces its own brand of defence products under the label Peacemaker.
Aquaterro's facilities include a Supply, Technical Inspection and Service Centre for prohibited weapons.
Throughout his visit, the PM was able to view Aquaterro’s textile and industrial design labs, sewing workshop, indoor 0.50 cal 100-metre range and high security storage facilities, and inspected a range of Aquaterro products, such as the new combat ballistic helmet.
During the visit, the PM welcomed the ongoing growth of Australian businesses operating within the defence sector.
“What is happening here is self-sufficiency,” the PM said.
“In our defence industries that we have been building the capability and self-sufficiency year, on year, on year to ensure that companies like this have the capacity to meet the demands and needs of our significant Defence Force upgrades.
“Supporting them so they can do the right job for Australia the job we need them to do, and more of that is being done by Australian companies like Aquaterro here in Melbourne.”
Graeme Bulte, founder and managing director at Aquaterro, expressed that the company is growing to meet the demand of Australia’s sovereign defence industry.
“It is a real privilege to have the Prime Minister and Jason Wood our local MP here today,” Bulte said.
“My team have a real passion for what we are doing, and we are growing. As the Prime Minister has said here; what we are looking to is the confidence for the future and the confidence for jobs.
“In the next six months we are going to grow our workforce by 50 per cent.”
[Related: Aquaterro secures PPE contract from Victorian government]
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