- by Peter Farmer
- The Guardian
- Issue #2167
What does Australia need to make? Solar batteries? A better power grid? Fast trains? Cars? More hospitals?
If you’re the Labor government, any of the above come second to missiles. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy is in the United States now. He’s just signed an agreement between Lockheed Martin, the newly-named US Department of War, and Australia which will mean Australia starts making guided missiles.
Conroy justified this priority in two ways. Australia gets to help the US who he says has problems with “a large backlog of orders.” The manufacture of missiles, Conroy says, can help Australia have more “self-reliance.” We’re not sure where Conroy’s interest in Australian self-reliance was when AUKUS was being signed, but at least he knows it’s important.
Conroy also said Australia could profit by selling surplus missiles to the US or other countries, presumably as long as the US gives us the ok.
