20 February 2015

AUS: Government's flawed Submarine process doesn't rule out another failed Captain's Pick


SENATOR STEPHEN CONROY
DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE

THE HON DAVID FEENEY MP
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
MEMBER FOR BATMAN

MEDIA RELEASE

The Abbott Government’s announcement today on the process it will follow to buy our new submarine fleet provides no guarantees that Australia won’t get yet another failed Captain’s Pick by the Prime Minister.

The ink is still not dry on the Government’s competitive evaluation process, which has clearly been cobbled together following the Prime Minister’s desperate attempt to shore up his leadership with his South Australian colleagues more than 10 days ago.

The Prime Minister’s preferred process:
  • Is not a competitive tender process;
  • Does not include a funded project definition study;
  • Does not set up a separate independent authority to ensure the process is run fairly and properly; and
  • Excludes the well-credentialed Swedish submarine builder Saab.

After breaking his promise to build the submarines in Adelaide, Tony Abbott can’t even provide basic detail on exactly what work will be undertaken in Australia, and how many Australians will benefit.

Labor remains deeply concerned that this process still allows the Prime Minister to make a Captain’s Pick and have Japan build Australia’s submarines.

What the Abbott Government should have announced today is a competitive tender process, with a funded project definition study, overseen by an independent authority separate from the DMO.

The Government should also provide a full explanation for why it’s excluding Saab, when just today Saab said it wants to be part of the process and could build Australia’s new submarines on time and in Adelaide.

The Prime Minister is simply wrong to claim that Saab hasn’t built a submarine in last two decades.

Saab is a well-credentialed submarine builder, which has delivered six submarines to Singapore over the past 18 years, with the last commissioned in 2013.

When it comes to Australia’s largest ever defence procurement process, the last thing Australia wants is another failed Captain’s Pick by a failing Prime Minister.

Labor’s process would ensure that we get the best defence capability at the best value for taxpayers.



NOTE: The “Strategic direction of the Future Submarine Program and Saab on submarine production in Australia” Links in the above were added by PacificSentinel for clarity & context. 
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