BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
MEMBER FOR GORTON
PORT OF DARWIN REVIEW
Reporting today states that the Government has considered – but not acted upon – Defence’s review into the privatisation of the Port of Darwin under Scott Morrison’s watch.
The report states that Defence has not provided a formal recommendation for a national security intervention, and yet the Government is still considering the report.
Labor and security experts have been expressing deep concern over this foreign privatisation deal ever since Mr Morrison waved it through it as Treasurer in 2015.
We have consistently called on the Federal Government to conduct a thorough review.
Labor expects a full briefing on this review, including on whether Defence also sought the views of the visiting allies and partners who use this port.
The Government has made a show about commissioning a Defence review into the Port of Darwin which was privatised by the NT Country Liberal Party in 2015.
If the Government acts unilaterally beyond Defence’s advice and intervenes on the Port of Darwin contract, the associated costs and fallout are on the Prime Minister’s lap. The Port of Darwin was privatised on his watch.
The Port of Darwin is a critical strategic asset for Australia. Australians know this foreign privatisation deal should never have happened on Mr Morrison’s watch – that’s just common sense.
This is part of pattern of behaviour by a Liberal Party addicted to privatisation:
- Scott Morrison has wasted almost $170 million attempting to privatise visa processing – twice.
- Scott Morrison trying to privatise security on important national security assets, like the Harold E Holt Naval Communications Station in WA.
- Over half of front-line claims processing staff in the Department of Veterans Affairs are labour hire contractors, hampering support for Veterans during the Royal Commission.
- AusTender indicating the cost of for-profit security vetting providers has tripled, with no commensurate improvement in performance.
None of this would have happened if the Liberals were not addicted to privatisation that overrides national security concerns.
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Why would we ever trust ALP with Defence matters. The 1987 White Paper was full or promise for 2% GDP until Paul Keating squeezed defence funding. In 2009 White Paper was reasonable until Wayne Swan was asked to repay the GFC splurge and Defence was chosen as the bill payer – I was made redundant froma Defence Company at that time.
I agree that the record of the Labor government was absolutely shameful – and Stephen Smith in particular was responsible for reducing the share of Defence spending to the lowest level since 1937. It’s mainly for this reason that Labor is running scared about any debate regarding national security and they cave in quickly on just about every issue – which by the way is not particularly healthy in a functioning democracy. However it should also be remembered that this government – despite the huge buckets of money being poured into the portfolio is developing a reputation almost as shameless. Their list of mismanagement includes, but is not limited to: a 2 year delay in the Hunter class frigate program with the ships already at the limit of their design margin; the unexplained cancellation of the Elbit BMS (2 billion); the unnecessary replacement of the Tiger ARH ($5-$6 billion); the questionable cancellation – and especially the way it was handled – Attack class submarine program ($3 billion before legal action); the ditching without any formal statement of the large Pacific Support Ship – and so on. You would have to go back to the Howard years to find a time when Defence was all managed.
Well they did deliver a first generation Collins Class submarine that should have just kept evolving. This LNP hasn’t come up with the goods as yet and won’t. This Nuke Sub debarkle is only a re-election ploy.