Land Forces 24 728x90 WEB 240202 01We start with an overview of recent and ongoing Defence procurement disasters – not to bore people but as a reminder that there is something seriously wrong with how the system functions. Defence Minister Richard Marles continues to think that everything is fine when in fact it is not. Another concern is the amount of misinformation coming from Defence officials – and we aren’t talking about the occasional slip of the tongue. Testimony has been given to Senate Estimates that is just plain provably wrong on multiple topics. A few words about psychology and how it is that objectively stupid decisions such as destroying and burying Taipan helicopters can gain Ministerial endorsement rather than be sent back to the drawing board. To lighten the mood – an anecdote from the time when we had a Minister who was capable of thinking objectively and believing the evidence of his own eyes rather than the official nonsense he was told.

To listen to the podcast, click here.

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Kym Bergmann
Kym Bergmann has more than 35 years of experience in journalism and Australian and international defence industry. After graduating with Honors from the Australian National University, he joined Capital 7 television, holding several positions including foreign news editor and chief political correspondent. After 2 years on the staff of a Federal Minister, he moved to the defence sector and held senior positions in several companies, including Blohm+Voss, Thales, Celsius and Saab. In 1997 he was one of 2 Australians selected for the Thomson CSF 'Preparation for Senior Management' MBA course, the other being Chris Jenkins - formerly the CEO of Thales Australia. He has also worked as a consultant for a number of companies, including Raytheon, Tenix (now part of BAES) and Martin Marrietta (now part of Lockheed Martin). He had several board appointments, including Thomson Sintra Pacific (1994 - 96) and Saab Pacific (1998 - 2003). He retains good personal links with senior figures in Government, as well as in industry and the media. He decided to return to journalism in May 2008, and holds the position of editor for Asia Pacific Defence Reporter (APDR) and Defence Review Asia (DRA). He is also a podcaster and commentator on defence and national security issues.

1 COMMENT

  1. Thanks again for your PodCasts . They are fast becoming the highlight of my week. The stupidity of the Decisions coming out of Defence have to be Departmental instructions, simply because people that incompetent would be incapable of tying their own shoes. The R.A.N. Has been Drooling over Nuclear Boats for Decades and am not surprised that they would sell their souls to get them. The secrecy surrounding the AUKUS Program is beyond being Paranoid (it’s not like the public expect Tech Details and Blue Prints to be published) the simplest questions are left unanswered and anybody who cast the slightest doubt on the Project is called Un Australian or worse. The level of incompetence and basic common sense being shown by the Dept would be laughable if it wasn’t so dangerous to our Defence. The whole system seems like a Mack Sennett script.

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