There are no new procurement disasters to talk about so let’s do some big picture stuff. Why is it that two former Prime Ministers, one Labor and one Liberal – Malcolm Turnbull and Paul Keating – think that AUKUS Pillar One is a thoroughly bad idea, but Anthony Albanese and Scott Morrison are uncritically boosting it? Could it be explained by the different backgrounds they all have and whether or not they are able to apply critical thinking to major projects? Successfully completing an acquisition or winning a project involves a lot more than being enthusiastic about the result. It might be the case that the uncritical AUKUS mindset is beginning to infect other processes, such as the disastrous General Purpose Frigate acquisition.

Hi Kym,
Enjoyed the podcast as usual. It will be interesting to see what impact the possible Presidency of Kamala Harris might have on AUKUS tier one if that comes into being.
I share your views on working much closer with South Korea – it makes sense on so many levels for us to enter into joint R&D projects with them should our leadership wake up.
I still believe that we need to look at an interim class of conventional submarines to fill the gap between decommissioning of the Collins class and the (maybe) commissioning of any AUKUS boats. Am certain that we could procure say six KSS-III boats fairly quickly to replace the Collins class – the government seems determined to spend a significant amount of money on trying to extend their operational lives with a half baked upgrade.
By my reckoning we must be close to hearing something back about the General Purpose Frigate selection “process” soon. That will be interesting.
Happy to see that a successful launch was made of the NSM during RIMPAC. At least we seem to have got that right.
Thanks. I’ll have a lot more to say about South Korea. For the conference I referenced they sent out a team of about 30, led by the Vice Minister for National Defence. From the government, the ADF and the Department – almost nothing. It was absolutely disgraceful treatment of such an important, high powered team looking to work with Australia. If even some low level flunkies had been sent by the US they would have received a hero’s welcome with unlimited forelock tugging and backside wiping. It made me embarrassed to be Australian.
I was wondering what our Government’s response was to the overtures from South Korea.
What you report doesn’t surprise me but it does disgust me.
I can not believe that anyone capable of tying their own shoes would make these insane decisions. It’s like everyone in Parliament, everyone employed by the Government and everyone over the rank of Staff Officer has been Hypnotised into believing that they must follow what ever the White House and U.S. Industry Decrees. Even when the Department does something constructive it is half arsed and so far down the track as to be useless when we get it. I can remember when it was common practice to follow up on any advancement in capability,regardless of where it came from, send a deputation (at least at some level) to every Defence related Expo or Symposium and at least look at Home Grown Equipment and Systems. Now unless it’s from the U.S it’s ignored even to the point of getting rid of equipment so that it can be replaced by U.S. made equipment.Honestly,sometimes I think the Greens would do a better job than the current options.
I am appalled at the lack of interest about South Korea in particular. They send out their deputy Defence Minister to offer closer cooperation – like building a joint space port!!!!! – and it gets totally ignored.