Australian Uniforms Now Made in China - Defence cost cutting.....

[1feral1]

This is causing quite a stir here..............

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/money/money-matters/digger-uniform-made-in-china/story-fn300aev-1225828487140AUSTRALIAN soldiers will be sent to war wearing uniforms with camouflage material made in China under a new round of Defence cost cutting.
The decision could put at risk the jobs of up to 400 textile workers and has raised national security concerns.

The hi-tech material for the uniforms, which are also worn by SAS troops, is currently made in Wangaratta in Victoria by Bruck Textiles.

But while Defence has decided to give the contract for the fabric to make several thousand uniforms to a Chinese company, it is believed that firm is seven months late in meeting the specifications.

Opposition industry spokeswoman Sophie Mirabella said it was an outrageous decision.

"Our soldiers risk their lives under the flag and in the uniform of this country," she said.

"It's dangerous, unpatriotic and tawdry for the Government to save a few dollars and buy the fabric overseas."
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OWDU

 

[cobbler]

I'm pretty sure this was canned due to the outrage it caused.

 

[1feral1]

You were right mate, found this http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/10/2815392.htm , and this is the first I heard of it....

Thanks for the heads up.

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Defence shoots down Made in China reports
Posted Wed Feb 10, 2010 11:12am AEDT
Updated Wed Feb 10, 2010 11:31am AEDT


Made in Australia: Diggers in Afghanistan (Australian Defence Force)

Minister for Defence Personnel Greg Combet says Australian soldiers' combat fatigues are not and will not be made in China.

Reports today suggested that the clothing manufacturer given the tender to make the uniforms planned to source its camouflage material from China.

But in a statement this morning Mr Combet said all uniforms would be made from fabric sourced in Australia.

"Contrary to some media reports this morning, combat uniforms worn by Australian soldiers are manufactured in Australia," he said.

"A tender was won late last year by a local clothing manufacturer from Bendigo, Australian Defence Apparel (ADA) to provide camouflage uniforms under an interim arrangement.

"ADA will be sourcing the fabric used to make these uniforms from Bruck Textiles in Wangaratta for the contracted period."

Mr Combet said Defence turned down an offer to have extra uniforms made from fabric sourced from China.

"Under the contract ADA put forward an option to supply additional uniforms if required. For these uniforms ADA said they would source the fabric from a Chinese company," he said.

"This option has not been exercised by the Department of Defence and it will not be exercised."


Security threat

Earlier Australia Defence Association executive director Neil James said any plans to move manufacturing offshore would pose a security threat.

"If a foreign manufacturer has the ability to manufacture large numbers of Australian Defence Force combat uniforms, then it raises the risk of that being done illegally, and a potential adversary having the potential to mount deception operations with people dressed in Australian uniforms, or indeed propaganda operations with people wrongly dressed in Australian uniforms," he said.

Mr James says combat uniforms are a key part of Australia's defence, and, like ammunition, they need to be made in Australia to ensure security of supply.

"The first concern is the simple continuity of supply issue," he said.

"Just like we manufacture all our small arms, ammunition and explosives domestically, rather than import them, combat uniforms are really that type of basic defence industrial capacity that needs to be maintained domestically.

"The second aspect and it really stems from the continuity of supply one, is the mobilisation and preparedness issue. If you suddenly need to increase the size of the Defence Force, you need to be able to source the supply of their combat uniforms quickly and efficiently within Australia."

Mr James says it would also be undignified to ask Australian soldiers to fight in foreign-made uniforms.

"We're asking young Australians to risk their lives defending our country, we actually think they should probably be dressed in an Australian uniform to do that," he said.

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Another sneaky play by our left wing federal idiots. Thank goodness its an election year. I am happy they were caught with their pants down and bowed to public pressure.



Cheers,

Wes