Budget spending home and away

Naval facilities, equipment, weapons and platforms, increased support for families and improvements to accommodation initiatives for ADF personnel will be the main areas to reap the benefits of the Defence Budget allocation.

CDF General Peter Cosgove has reaffirmed projects like the Seasprites, FFG upgrade and new airwarfare destroyers are in the “underpinning of the Budget”.

A boost of $313.9 million in support of ADF operations around the globe is one of the Government’s main Budget initiatives. This includes an additional $131.6million over three years to ensure the ADF can continue its contribution to the rehabilitation of Iraq beyond the planned hand over to the new Iraqi Government in June, an extra $20.1 million over two years for a continued ADF presence in East Timor and $16 million to continue border protection operations.

ADF security support to the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games will see an additional $13.0 million over three years and across Australia, Navy facilities such as HMAS Stirling and HMAS Albatross will see an increase in funds as various projects ramp up over the next year.

Defence will spend about $305 million in 2004-05 on approved capital facilities projects that will support Australian Defence Force capabilities.

These include:

• Wharf repairs at Garden Island ship yards in Sydney, New South Wales;
• Refurbishment of cranes and wharves at HMAS Stirling, Western Australia; and,
• Improvements to address occupational health and safety issues at Cadet facilities in various States.
  
  Logistics support
  
  The largely unsung part of Defence – logistics support – is to be boosted by a funding injection of $815.6 million over four years.
  
  The money will be used for enhanced maintenance, refits and/ or upgrades for a range of capabilities including:
• Afloat Support (HMAS Success);
• Maritime Patrol Aircraft (P-3C Orions);
• ANZAC Frigates (FFH);
• Naval Aviation (including Sea King, Seahawk and Super Seasprite helicopters and Kalkara pilotless target aircraft); and,
• RAAF will gain $326 million to buy an extra two Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, equipping Australia with a fleet of six of the leading edge air and maritime surveillance aircraft.
  
  The new funding also provides for the continuation through 2007-08 of the increased logistics support announced in last year’s budget for the Collins submarines.
  
  Families and retention
  
  Substantial programs aimed at both attracting and retaining skilled people in the Australian Defence Force are to be extended with an additional $21.4 million in the 2004-05 Budget.
  
  The funds will be used to build on the current $100 million a year provided for programs aimed at improving the conditions of Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and their families.
  
  There is an $80 million increase to Defence’s military personnel budget over the next four years. This will brings Defence’s budget for ADF health services, housing and fringe benefits tax into line with cost trends in these areas in recent years, and will provides for increases in ADF remuneration over the next decade.
  
  Accommodation arrangements for ADF personnel will be greatly enhanced under a $356.5 million package in the 2004-05 Budget.
  
  The package will provide single ADF members with improved modern facilities on Defence bases around Australia and more ADF personnel will be given the choice to live on or off base. The project, called Single LEAP (Living Environment and Accommodation Precinct), will include:
• $113.2 million for new or renovated individual units for ADF members without dependents.
• $243.3 million to increase the successful Rent Assistance scheme, enabling up to 10,600 ADF members without dependants to live off base by 2006.
  
  Navy News will discuss the broader implications of the Budget and the future for Defence in our next edition.

Customs add to armoury

Australia will soon have a new armed vessel patrolling her waters.

She will fly the flag of the Australian Customs Service, her “beat” will be the Southern Ocean and her role will be to deter Patagonian toothfish poachers.

On her deck will be a 50 calibre machinegun and ready to go onboard any suspected vessel will be an armed boarding party from the Customs National Marine Unit.

And should an arrest be made there will be a back-up civilian “steaming party.”

The new Customs initiative was announced in last week’s budget and will commence in July.

Senator Ellison and Fisheries Minister Senator Ian Macdonald, said the budget for the armed fisheries patrols included $47.8 million in 2004-05 and $41.4 million in 2005- 06.

Good things forecast

By LEUT Aaron Matzkows

GEN Peter Cosgrove

The Budget is “a good thing” for the Defence Force, says CDF General Peter Cosgrove.

“It provides a tremendous boost to the programs we have in place,” he said.

GEN Cosgrove told Navy News modernisation, improved quality of life for service people and an increased logistics spending were highlights of the $16,348 million Defence Budget.

“It confirms the force modernisation we were aiming for through, first of all, the White Paper in 2000 and, secondly, the Strategic Review of 2003.

“In each of those we looked for some significant improvements in the way we do business and the way we resource our business.

“Navy is looking to get air warfare destroyers, to improve and upgrade the Seahawk, bring the Seasprites into action, new combat systems for the submarines, upgrades to the Anzac frigates and upgrades to the FFGs.

“All of these are confirmed in the underpinning of the Budget.”

GEN Cosgrove said increases in pay and conditions of $458 million over four years would assist the Services’ drives in recruitment and retention of members.

The spending includes an increase in the numbers of single members receiving Rental Assistance and an upgrade of on-base single accommodation to cost $113 million.

As well, child care will receive an extra $21 million.

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Couldn’t ask for more

By LEUT Aaron Matzkows

VADM Chris Ritchie

The issues Navy considered important had been included in Budget 04, the Chief of Navy, VADM Chris Ritchie, said.

“We couldn’t ask for much more … I’m pretty happy,” he told Navy News.

The Budget had provided a “considerable injection” of funding across the Defence base, enabling Navy to continue to meet operational commitments, he said.

Funds also had been secured for logistic support for Naval Aviation and the Anzac frigates, for Success’s refit and VADM Ritchie said the replacement for Westralia was close to resolution.

“It also guarantees us money in the area of logistic support that we have been seeking for some time on submarine refits way into the future.

“I am quite happy that the Air Warfare Destroyer project is on track.”

VADM Ritchie was particularly pleased with the provisions for personnel.

“There’s money for Rental Assistance, there’s money for living-in accommodation, there’s money for additional child care, for spouse support,” he said.

On course was the Anti- Ship Missile Defence upgrade, with provision for the Maritime Communications Capability Enhancement project Fire Control Radar.

“All of our future capability is fine, it’s been looked after.”

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