South Australia defence businesses effected by poor contracting

A Senate inquiry has been told that South Australian defence businesses are laying off workers because of poor Defence Department contracting as more defence contracts are awarded offshore.

Chris Burns, the chief executive of the Defence Teaming Centre, which represents the sector's businesses and 22,700 workers, has told a Senate inquiry more defence contracts were being awarded to overseas companies.

Delays were also becoming longer and more frequent.

This was because the Defence Materiel Organisation, which manages equipment for the Australian Defence Force, was being hampered by political red tape.

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