Priorities
2012-13 Outlook
Planning for the security of Australia and its national interest is a fundamental responsibility for Australia’s Government. An essential part of fulfilling this responsibility is making strategic, risk-based decisions about Australia’s long-term national security and Defence needs.
This means we must understand the implications for Australia of changing strategic, security and economic circumstances. It also means we must analyse and understand the impact of these changes on Australia’s Defence force posture, our future force structure and Defence budget.
Defence’s budget for 2012-13 is $24.188 billion. The Defence budget was developed following a comprehensive review of the Department’s budget to identify contributions Defence could make across the Forward Estimates to support the Government’s broader fiscal strategy. This review has resulted in a Defence contribution of $5.4 billion across the Forward Estimates and will see Defence contribute $971 million in 2012-13.
The decisions taken to determine Defence’s contribution to the Budget bottom line have all been carefully designed to protect our service men and women and our Defence operations, and to minimise the impact on core capabilities.
Much has changed since the release of the Defence White Paper 2009, both in our strategic and fiscal environment and in the development and reform of the Defence Organisation.
The Defence White Paper 2013 will ensure that Defence is structured and postured to meet Australia’s current and future Defence requirements within our economic means. It will account for a number of important developments since the release of the Defence White Paper 2009, which have necessitated the following methodical reviews:
- major readjustment to ADF posture and Australia’s Defence priorities resulting from the forthcoming draw down of our operational commitment in Afghanistan, coupled with likely draw down in East Timor and Solomon Islands in 2013
- expansion of offshore resource exploitation in our West, North West and Northern approaches as outlined in the Force Posture Review
- effects of the global economic crisis on our economy and capacity to fund the full range of capabilities outlined in the Defence White Paper 2009
- significant shift in strategic and economic weight to the Asia-Pacific region, which has been accompanied by strong investment in force modernisation
- implementation of a wide-ranging reform program in 2011, including in the areas of capability development, procurement and acquisition, the Defence Budget and the strengthening of personal and institutional accountability.
We need to address these challenges and opportunities systematically and ensure that investment in Defence continues to be optimised to our circumstances.
To contribute to our strategic requirements, Defence will progress a number of core White Paper 2009 projects in 2012-13, including:
- the Joint Strike Fighter
- consideration of the Growler airborne electronic attack capability
- the acquisition of medium and heavy trucks
- upgrades to Orion maritime patrol aircraft, C-130J aircraft and ANZAC class ships.
We have completed a full review of the Defence Capability Plan, including an audit of the plan and development of new frameworks and methodologies. Of the 180 capability projects underpinning the 2009 White Paper, 170 remain, with only 10 removed, because they were overtaken by related projects or replaced by newer technologies. A range of lower-priority capability projects will be deferred. Other major and minor capability and facility programs will be subject to re-scoping.
We will also put significant focus on implementing the Pathway to Change strategy to change Defence's culture and performance, so that as an organisation, in the eyes of Government and the nation, Defence is 'trusted to defend, proven to deliver and respectful always'.
Defence Corporate Plan 2012-17
The Defence Corporate Plan 2012–17 highlights our future directions and key priorities. It outlines our approach to sustaining and developing the Defence organisation, our risks and key risk management strategies.
White Paper 2009
The 2009 Defence White Paper clearly outlines how the Government will manage our security in a changing and uncertain world. Importantly, it also clearly lays down the Government’s expectations of the Australian Defence Force.
- White Paper 2009
- White Paper 2009 Booklet
- White Paper Fact Sheet
- White Paper - Community Consultation Program Report of Findings
White Paper 2013
In May 2012, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Defence announced that the Government has commissioned a new Defence White Paper to be delivered in the first half of 2013. This new White Paper will take account of Australia’s emerging strategic and fiscal environment. The White Paper will also adjust as appropriate the reform programs underway. The department has commenced early scoping work on this new White Paper.
Defence Strategic Reform Program
As part of the 2009 Defence White Paper, the Government committed to fundamental and extensive reform of Defence business to improve accountability, planning and productivity in the organisation.
The Strategic Reform Program – Delivering Force 2030 booklet sets out the details of the Strategic Reform Program and shows how the gross savings of around $20 billion over the ten years to 2019 will be achieved.
This money will be reinvested in Defence to deliver stronger military capabilities, to remediate areas where there has not been enough funding in the past and to modernise the Defence enterprise ‘backbone’, which is essential to support the fighting force.
Defence Capability Plan
The Public Defence Capability Plan builds upon the Government’s commitment to keep industry abreast of Defence’s acquisition planning so that it can effectively perform its role as a crucial component of our national Defence capability.