• Video
• Image

Digger uniforms all made in Australia

Australian soldiers' uniforms will be made in China / File

"Combat uniforms worn by Australian soldiers are manufactured in Australia," junior defence minister Greg Combet said in a statement.

Mr Combet was responding to a report in the Herald Sun that Australian soldiers would be sent to war in uniforms with camouflage material made in China as part of a new round of defence cost cutting.

"There was never a requirement to use Chinese fabric on combat clothing," he said.

The local manufacturer - Bendigo-based Australian Defence Apparel - was sourcing the fabric from Bruck Textiles, based in Wangaratta. The contract with the Government did contain an option, allowing the manufacturer to supply extra uniforms using fabric sourced from a Chinese company.

"This option has not been exercised by the Department of Defence and it will not be exercised," Mr Combet said.

No Australian soldier currently deployed, or in training, was wearing combat uniforms made with Chinese fabric, he said.

Victorian RSL president Maj-Gen David McLachlan said other countries would baulk at foreign-made uniforms.

"In America I understand there is a congressional requirement that their uniforms and equipment is made in America and, whilst in Australia you can’t produce our defence equipment, we can produce our uniforms.

"When I heard about it I thought, 'Oh well, here’s another Australian icon being sent off shore’."

But Maj-Gen McLachan said he couldn’t see the decision being reversed.

"We complained about the slouch hat being made overseas to Defence, who said it was because of the cost. You are talking to a wall," he said.

"We will certainly take this matter to a national level, but it sounds like a decision has been made."

Maj-Gen McLachan said the extra cost for uniforms to be made in Australia was a small price to pay.

"It is worth it," he said.

Read more of this story in the Herald Sun.