THE federal government has been accused of political interference in a Defence tender process to buy the next generation of army trucks, allegedly favouring the Victorian-built Bushmaster despite it being beaten by rivals in trials.
Defence and industry insiders have told the Herald the government has tried to circumvent recommendations from the Defence Materiel Organisation, which favoured a cheaper armoured truck made by German company Rheinmetall MAN, in favour of new modified ''Bushmaster Ute'', made in Bendigo by the French company Thales.
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