MEMBER for Bendigo Lisa Chesters has called on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to make the signing of the Hawkei contract one of his first acts in the top job.

The $1.5 billion contract would see Thales Australia – based in Bendigo – manufacture 1300 of the vehicles to replace the military’s Land Rover fleet.

Ms Chesters said Mr Turnbull had the opportunity to “secure existing jobs” in Bendigo.

“Maintaining a strong industrial base, including the skilled workers here in Bendigo, has important strategic implications for Australia,” she said.

“We must not allow this industry to die.”

Thales Bendigo won a $205 million contract in 2012 to produce 214 Bushmaster utes for the military, but missed out on a larger contract in 2011.

Current education minister Christopher Pyne has been touted as a potential defence minister in the Turnbull cabinet, to be announced within a week.

Ms Chesters said the contract needed to be signed soon to ensure the future stability of the facility.

“My understanding is that a contract to manufacture the Hawkei needs to be signed as soon as possible in order to ensure the sustainability of the Bendigo facility,” she said.

“The importance of the Hawkei defence contract to Bendigo cannot be understated.”