A new scheme to help Australian defence suppliers win export sales was officially launched today by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson.
"The Defence Recognised Supplier Scheme (DRSS) will help Australian firms win export orders so they can continue to sustain the Australian Defence Force in future," Dr Nelson told a gathering of industry and Defence representatives at Parliament House.
"We need an agile, viable and healthy defence industry to support the Australian Defence Force that we are building through the Government's Defence White Paper - 'Defence 2000: Our Future Defence Force'."
The new scheme allows approved Australian businesses to use a logo identifying them as recognised suppliers to Defence when marketing their products and services.
Dr Nelson said a user trial of a company recognition scheme, which had operated for the past 18 months, had attracted more than 40 applicants, mostly from small and medium enterprises.
"As an internationally-recognised Australian icon, the kangaroo symbolises the agile, swift and determined Australian firms we want to help succeed in tough defence export markets," Dr Nelson said.
Any Australian firm, which has supplied goods or services to the Australian Defence Organisation, is eligible to apply for recognition. Entry to the scheme is free but approval is dependent on a satisfactory record of supply to Defence.
The scheme is administered by the International Materiel Branch of the Defence Materiel Organisation.
