The chairman of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security toured the Australian Munitions factory at Benalla, formerly known as Thales or ADI, on Thursday.

It was his first journey to the plant after having visited the Bandiana army base last July.

Senator Paterson was in the area to back Liberal candidate for Indi and former army commando Ross Lyman.

"I can't think of a better person than Ross, with all his national security and defence experience to be representing the Liberal Party and I hope after the election representing the people of Indi," Senator Paterson said.

He tipped that if the Coalition was re-elected there would be more defence-related jobs through the army or suppliers, such as Australian Munitions and Bruck Textiles, flow through to the North East.

However, Senator Paterson was not able to give specifics.

"We've already supported thousands of jobs in the region through the base and the defence industry but yesterday the minister Peter Dutton announced a very important new contract for (supply company) NIOA and some of those benefits will flow down here through to Indi," he said.

"I'll let the company speak about exactly how they intend to break up that contract and where they'll put those resources but NIOA is a big winner from the investment that the Morrison government is making in our national security and defence."

IN OTHER NEWS:

NIOA stated the weapons upgrade flagged by Mr Dutton would lead to 29 long-term jobs in Brisbane.

However the company, which leases land near Australian Munitions plans to build a $50 million small arms factory in either Benalla, Brisbane or Lithgow in NSW, although a final decision on location is not imminent.

Senator Paterson echoed comments from his Liberal colleague Senator Jane Hume and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce in relation to Dr Haines having to explain who she would support if there was a hung parliament.

However, he confined that choice to defence policy.

"If there is a hung parliament after the election, if Helen Haines does help Anthony Albanese become prime minister, whose defence and national security policies is she going to adopt?" Senator Paterson said.

"Is she going to adopt the Labor Party's weak national security and defence policies or is going to adopt the Greens policy which is to halve national security defence funding if they win the election?"

Dr Haines said national security should be above party politics.

"In uncertain times, we need calm, sensible voices of reason in the Parliament to hold government to account. Senator Paterson is politicising national security as part of this election campaign," she said.

"Indi's defence and veterans community know I have backed them in for the past three years and our nation's defence is far too important to become a political football.

"I have lobbied on behalf of many businesses that make up our vibrant local defence sector, including for Pentarch in Wangaratta, which won a $15 million defence contract for ammunitions boxes, keeping jobs here in the North East."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: