The government this week released its new Defence Export Strategy that calls for $20 million in additional annual funding to support Australia’s defence exports.

“Exports will provide our defence industry with greater certainty of future investment and support high-end manufacturing jobs for Australians for generations to come,” the strategy stated.

Ararat’s most recent involvement in the defence industry is through electronics manufacturer AME Systems.

AME Systems is part of the bid by BAE Systems Australia to build a new armoured vehicle for the Australian Defence Force through the Land 400 project.

The Land 400 project was designed to deliver vehicles for Australian military use rather than for export.

AME Systems declined to comment on the Defence Export Strategy as it had yet to evaluate the full document.

Mr Tehan said the strategy would expand on the government’s $200 billion of domestic defence spending.

“We want to do more to support Australian companies, including companies in Victoria, to access even more opportunities through the defence export market,” Mr Tehan said.

“Exports will unlock the full potential of Australian defence industry to grow, innovate and support the Australian Defence Force’s future needs.

“This will provide our defence industry with greater certainty of future investment and support jobs for Australians for generations to come.”

The export strategy will also make billions of dollars of financing available to Australian companies in the defence sector.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Australia was ranked 21 in the list of global major conventional weapon exporters, with US$127 million in estimated exports in 2016

The number one weapons exporter, the United States, had almost $10 billion in exports.

Over the past few years, Australia’s defence manufacturers have exported between $1.6b to $4.2b in weapons, technology, equipment and vehicles each financial year.

Australian manufacturers would have to keep their exports above $3.3 billion a year to make it into the global top 10 for total defence exports.

Australian Greens leader Richard Di Natale said increasing defence exports would contribute to overseas conflicts.

“We need to export renewable energy technology, advanced medical technology and education services, not killing machines,” Senator Di Natale posted on social media.