Army personnel from Bandiana have joined other Australian Defence Force resources called into assist the Victorian government contain an outbreak of coronavirus cases in Melbourne's northern suburbs.
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The defence department has confirmed 31 personnel from the Army School of Health, including nurses, were deployed to Melbourne earlier in the week.
Details on specific roles, how long they will be required in Melbourne and quarantine arrangements post their involvement in the metropolitan area, which will include a return to stage three lockdown of residents from midnight Wednesday, have not been confirmed.
Meanwhile, the federal defence department has secured the 600-plus jobs at Mulwala and Benalla factories with the signing of a new 10-year agreement worth $1 billion with Thales Australia for continued management and operation of the two sites.
"I know local management and staff at Thales are constantly refining and improving what they do to ensure they can continue to perform this vital role for our country," Farrer MP Sussan Ley said.
"We have worked closely with defence to manufacture munitions for more than 20 years, using our deep technical expertise to provide urgently required munitions to the (ADF) whilst on operations," Thales Australia chief executive Chris Jenkins said.
Defence minister Linda Reynolds said: "Mulwala and its sister facility in Benalla are the home of munitions manufacturing in Australia, generating vital job opportunities in regional Victoria and NSW".
The Mulwala will also share in the $10 billion investment across the country of military sites.
Also, earmarked for "redevelopment and upgrade" are several Sydney-area sites including: HMAS Waterhen, HMAS Watson, HMAS Penguin, Holsworthy Barracks, Randwick Barracks, Victoria Barracks, RAAF Base Richmond and Defence Establishment Orchard Hills.
The announcement was made as part of the Morrison Government's updated defence strategy released on Wednesday.