Senate Inquiry receives submissions on problems in Defence procurement

The Senate Standing Committee on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is inquiring into Defence procurement.

Individual contracts and the Victorian Government have criticised the swing towards off-the-shelf equipment purchasing, stating that it threatened the capability of local industry. 

'The current focus on the procurement of military off-the-shelf and commercial off-the-shelf equipment will eventually erode the ingenuity and capability of Australia's defence industry and force the sector to the low value add end of the engineering spectrum,' the Victorian Department of Business and Innovation said in its submission.

The Victorian Government was also concerned the slow-down in Defence spending was forcing businesses out of the industry.

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