Australian opposition promises equal terms for defence contracts

 
Launching the coalition defence industry policy, Opposition defence science and personnel spokesman Bob Baldwin promised a better deal for Australian companies to compete on more equal terms with foreign firms for defence contracts. He claimed current procurement practice seemed to have shifted noticeably towards acquiring equipment already in service overseas, referred to as MOTS (military off the shelf) or COTS (commercial off the shelf).

"While MOTS and COTS solutions certainly have their place in the Australian Defence Force procurement sphere - the C-17 and Super Hornet acquisitions spring to mind as MOTS success stories - the current governments overemphasis on the cheapest option will inevitably result in Australia's armed forces losing their capability edge on the battlefield," he said in an address to the Australian Business Defence Industry Unit. Mr Baldwin said that would also result in a loss of expertise in the Australian defence industry.

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