The federal government’s commitment to Australian manufacturing is under scrutiny after a contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars was awarded to a New Zealand company.
Crossbench senator for Tasmania, Tammy Tyrell, has criticised the decision by the federal government to award a $259 million (US$173 million) defence rations contract to a New Zealand company, Prepack, to produce over 400,000 Australian military ration packs for the next eight years.
The ration packs are used by Australian troops deployed overseas, on exercise or domestic operations in Australia. The contract includes not just the new Combat Ration Packs but a Universal Ration Pack, which offers a gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free option for cadets and potentially civilians….