Commonwealth Coat of Arms

MEDIA ALERT
 
DPAO 237/98 Friday 27 November 1998
 

Defence Force 2000 – Much More Reliant on Australian Industry

The Australian Defence Force will rely much more heavily on Australian industry, a major policy paper just released to the Defence community indicates.

"We no longer manufacture equipment within Defence, and we are increasingly seeking maintenance and other support from industry," says a booklet, Defence - Our Priorities, being distributed throughout the Australian Defence Organisation.

The booklet says the trend towards devolvement to private enterprise of work in support of the core business of defending the country will continue.

"To maximise Australia's military capabilities, we need to develop, support and operate our forces as cost-effectively as possible," say the Defence Executive, the group of 14 program heads led jointly by Secretary for Defence Mr Paul Barratt and Chief of Defence Force Admiral Chris Barrie, which published Defence - Our Priorities.

"Many functions can be performed better by organisations outside Defence itself. So enhancing national support for our capabilities is central to maximising those capabilities now and in the future.

"Where specialised skills and services are available more cheaply from outside Defence, we will seek them there, leaving us to do what we can do best."

The paper, endorsed by Defence Minister John Moore, identifies Defence's role as 'to prevent or defeat the use of armed force against our country or its interests.'

As well as outlining the Defence Mission and Vision for the next century, the paper lists six goals:

  • More combat-ready capability;

  • Stronger future capability;

  • Closer alliances and international strategic relationships;

  • Enhanced national support;

  • Growing skills and knowledge; and

  • Stronger leadership and better management.

As well as detailing a wide range of Defence materiel projects likely to require Australian industry participation, key objectives for the next two to three years include:

  • Implementation of the decisions of the Defence and Industry Strategy Policy Statement (launched by former Defence Industry Minister Bronwyn Bishop earlier this year);

  • Contributing to the sale process for ADI in ways that meet Defence and wider Government objectives;

  • Conclusion of agreements with Australia's airlines for improved access to their services in contingencies; and

  • Progressing the Commercial Support Program to enhance the effective relationship between Defence and supporting industry.

"None of this will happen unless we take deliberate steps to promote the development of the skills and capacities that we need from the civil sector," the paper warns. "To do that we need to identify specific new areas of national support, and implement effective arrangements, while undertaking national mobilisation planning."

Defence - Our Priorities may be viewed at and downloaded from http://www.defence.gov.au
Hard copies of the document are available on request from the Defence Publishing Agency on (02) 6265 3633.

Contact:

Tony Underwood (02) 6265 2703