2019-20 Defence Major Projects Report provides transparency

The 13th annual ANAO 2019-20 Defence Major Projects Report tabled today demonstrates transparency in relation to Defence’s largest acquisition projects.

The Report outlines the progress and performance of Defence’s 25 largest and most complex acquisition projects and highlights that all 25 projects have performed strongly within the review period.

This demonstrates the Government’s commitment to delivering world-class capability for our Australian Defence Force through the $270 billion investment in defence capability over the next decade.

The Australian Government has world class support programs to provide opportunities for Australian businesses in Defence projects. This has been well demonstrated throughout the year as Defence and Industry have worked together in true partnership to safely continue to equip and sustain the ADF.

The report highlights key achievements in the reporting period, including:

• The declaration of Initial Operational Capability for the medium and heavy fleet of next-generation logistics vehicles, modules and trailers.
• Defence also accepted 12 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft during the reporting period to 30 June 2020, and a further four since, bringing the total Australian fleet to 30 aircraft.
• The report highlights progress in the Government’s Naval Shipbuilding Plan. During the reporting period, HMAS Sydney was commissioned, most notably this was achieved at sea COVID safe; and
• All three Hobart class destroyers were delivered to Navy, marking a significant milestone for the Air Warfare Destroyer Program.

Defence projects are highly complex and often require the management of high technical risk. Defence, together with industry, is committed to continuing to improve capability delivery and performance. The Defence Transformation Strategy launched by Minister for Defence on 27 November 2020 will further strengthen our ability to do so.

Defence acknowledges some delays to key projects, but for many, they are already providing a level of capability and benefits to the ADF, such as the Spartan C-27J which supported the Government Bushfire Assist.

There have been no Real Cost Increases to Defence Major Acquisitions in the 2019-2020 Report.

The Government is committed to efficiently and effectively equipping and sustaining the sailors, soldiers and Air Force personnel and building Australian industry capability in the national interest.