2 years ago
GOVERNMENT’S FAILING HELICOPTERS SCRAPPED
BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP
The Morrison-Joyce Government has once again been forced to admit failure with their Defence assets, scrapping the beleaguered Taipan Helicopter fleet to spend $7 billion more on new Blackhawks.
These Taipan helicopters have been plagued with issues for years and were grounded earlier this year due to potentially catastrophic maintenance issues.
Almost $3.5 billion has already been spent on the Taipans.
These are just one of many assets with significant problems.
After a revolving door of six Defence Ministers under the Liberal-National Government, Labor has significant concerns about the way major contracts and assets have been managed and the effect this has on our sovereign Defence capability.
The Morrison-Joyce Government is overseeing a host of Defence assets that are defective or not fit for purpose, and contracts that are over budget, face years of delay, and do not always represent value for money.
The most significant and prominent example is with our submarines, where we have a fleet of ageing Collins Class vessels and only a proposal for further submarines, with no concrete contract or plan.
But we also have the C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifters that were not fit for battle and had to be reclassified as humanitarian aircraft.
The Future Frigates are $10 billion over budget and running years late.
And our $3 billion Battle Management System failed cyber security tests.
Under the Morrison-Joyce Government, 25 major Defence projects are running cumulatively 68 years late, meaning ADF personnel are not getting the equipment and platforms they need to do their jobs.
The Morrison-Joyce Government likes to talk tough on Defence but is failing to manage and deliver the Defence capability we need.
These Taipan helicopters have been plagued with issues for years and were grounded earlier this year due to potentially catastrophic maintenance issues.
Almost $3.5 billion has already been spent on the Taipans.
These are just one of many assets with significant problems.
After a revolving door of six Defence Ministers under the Liberal-National Government, Labor has significant concerns about the way major contracts and assets have been managed and the effect this has on our sovereign Defence capability.
The Morrison-Joyce Government is overseeing a host of Defence assets that are defective or not fit for purpose, and contracts that are over budget, face years of delay, and do not always represent value for money.
The most significant and prominent example is with our submarines, where we have a fleet of ageing Collins Class vessels and only a proposal for further submarines, with no concrete contract or plan.
But we also have the C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifters that were not fit for battle and had to be reclassified as humanitarian aircraft.
The Future Frigates are $10 billion over budget and running years late.
And our $3 billion Battle Management System failed cyber security tests.
Under the Morrison-Joyce Government, 25 major Defence projects are running cumulatively 68 years late, meaning ADF personnel are not getting the equipment and platforms they need to do their jobs.
The Morrison-Joyce Government likes to talk tough on Defence but is failing to manage and deliver the Defence capability we need.