Ipswich’s growing defence industry has reached another major milestone, with new deployable field hospitals for the Australian Defence Force being delivered from Bundamba.
The project is being undertaken by Saab Australia under a $421 million Federal Government contract and will deliver around 550 deployable medical modules capable of supporting ADF operations and humanitarian responses.
Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann told West Bremer Radio the project was a significant win for Ipswich and the wider South East Queensland region.
“This is MASH coming to South East Queensland,” Mr Neumann said.
The project has around 70 per cent Australian content and is supporting approximately 40 ongoing local jobs, while more than 100 Australian suppliers are involved in its delivery.
The deployable medical facilities will provide capabilities ranging from primary healthcare and preventative treatment through to advanced surgery and treatment of complex injuries and illnesses.
Mr Neumann said their usefulness would extend beyond military operations, with the facilities able to be rapidly deployed during natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies.
He said that capability was particularly important for South East Queensland, which has experienced several major floods and other natural disasters in recent years.
Defence driving local jobs
Mr Neumann said the project demonstrated the growing importance of defence manufacturing and advanced industry to Ipswich and South East Queensland.
He said the region’s defence industry generates around $1.9 billion in annual export value and supports significant employment across the western corridor.
Ipswich is already home to major defence industry operations, including Rheinmetall’s Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence, while other companies involved in defence and aerospace have established a strong presence across the region.
Mr Neumann said Australia’s experience during the COVID-19 pandemic had also demonstrated the importance of maintaining sovereign manufacturing, logistics and medical capabilities.
“The need for self-reliance is really, really important,” he said.
He said the Bundamba project was another example of Ipswich’s economy evolving from its traditional reliance on mining towards advanced manufacturing, defence and aerospace industries.
“These are good, high-paying jobs, very skilled jobs,” Mr Neumann said.
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