BAE SYSTEMS

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite) (14:49): My question is again to the Minister for Defence Industries. How many of the 450 jobs to be shed by defence company BAE will be lost in South Australia, what will be the economic impact of the company's decision to contract its footprint from Mawson Lakes into Edinburgh Parks and what action, if any, has the government taken to assist families impacted by the decisions?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:49): BAE Systems has confirmed there will be no direct job losses in South Australian operations as a result of the loss of its land materiel, vehicle and major weapons systems maintenance contract. I presume that is what the member for Waite was referring to. The project-based nature of defence business will always mean that workforce levels fluctuate as projects come online, ramp up and wind down. The company has previously determined on commercial grounds to vacate its Mawson Lakes premises and consolidate at Edinburgh Park. This decision is not linked to the contract loss.