2 years ago
DEFENCE BUDGET NOTHING TO BOAST ABOUT
BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP
In Question Time today, Defence Minister Peter Dutton boasted about the money the Government is spending on Defence while he presides over the most mismanaged Defence contracts in Australia’s history.
There are cost blowouts in Defence contracts in the tens of billions of dollars, with the Future Submarines blown by $40 billion and the Future Frigates by $10 billion.
There are decisions stalled or not taken, such as with the Collins Class submarines Full Cycle Docking location, which the Government promised to announce by the end of 2019, with still no answer on that or the details of any Life Of Type Extension.
The Morrison Government is either neglecting its responsibilities or being secretive about these decisions.
You don’t get to boast about your increased Defence expenditure when your cost blowouts run in the tens of billions of dollars.
Mismanagement is not a virtue.
As well as being indecisive, secretive and presiding over massive cost blowouts, we know the Government is cutting Defence capital expenditure.
The Morrison Government’s latest Budget forecast $4.3 billion in cuts to Defence’s capital acquisition budget over the next three years.
After six Defence Ministers in eight years, we need a Minister who is focussed on delivering Defence capabilities on time and on budget.
There are cost blowouts in Defence contracts in the tens of billions of dollars, with the Future Submarines blown by $40 billion and the Future Frigates by $10 billion.
There are decisions stalled or not taken, such as with the Collins Class submarines Full Cycle Docking location, which the Government promised to announce by the end of 2019, with still no answer on that or the details of any Life Of Type Extension.
The Morrison Government is either neglecting its responsibilities or being secretive about these decisions.
You don’t get to boast about your increased Defence expenditure when your cost blowouts run in the tens of billions of dollars.
Mismanagement is not a virtue.
As well as being indecisive, secretive and presiding over massive cost blowouts, we know the Government is cutting Defence capital expenditure.
The Morrison Government’s latest Budget forecast $4.3 billion in cuts to Defence’s capital acquisition budget over the next three years.
After six Defence Ministers in eight years, we need a Minister who is focussed on delivering Defence capabilities on time and on budget.