Australian Defence Force: Exercises

Senator Chris Evans asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 26 April 2002:

With reference to pages 26 to 29 of the Defence portfolio additional estimates statements 2001-02, which lists exercises that will occur during the 2001-02 financial year: in relation to each of these exercises separately, can the following information be provided: (a) the total budget for the exercises (please confirm that this is an additional cost, i.e. does not included ongoing costs that would have accrued without the exercise); (b) if the exercise has been completed, the actual cost of the exercise (if this varies from the budget for the exercise explain the reason for the discrepancy); (c) if the budget for the exercise has been revised, the revised budget and the reason for the change; (d) a breakdown of the budget for the exercise, eg. allowances, fuel, ammunition, equipment replacement, maintenance; and (e) how many personnel will be involved in the exercise, its duration and a description of the activities the personnel will be performing.

Senator Hill - The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

There is no additional cost in conducting the exercises identified. The program of Defence exercises is designed to keep the Australian Defence Force at the level of preparedness required of it by the Government. This is achieved within the level of funds provided to Defence and subsequently distributed to the Service Chiefs, consistent with the particular requirements of their respective combat forces.

The exercises listed in the pages 26 - 29 of the Defence Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2001-02 represent only some of the activities the combat forces undertake as part of generating their required level of preparedness. If one of the identified activities were to be cancelled, a substitute activity would take its place, either in the form of another similar exercise, or as is often the case, a sequence of many smaller and less identifiable activities.

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