STATEMENT: No plan B despite litany of frigates issues

BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE MEMBER FOR GORTON PAT CONROY MP  SHADOW MINISTER ASSISTING FOR DEFENCE  MEMBER FOR SHORTLAND NO PLAN B DESPITE LITANY OF FRIGATES ISSUES Australia’s $45 billion Future Frigates are facing serious issues, but the Morrison Government has no back up plan to bridge a capability gap. Senate Estimates today revealed that the department has not been asked by the Government to explore alternative platforms to bridge the capability gap. This Government has scrapped the Attack Class submarines and retired the Taipan and Tiger helicopters much earlier than planned, and yet they have not asked the Defence Department to prepare a Plan B for the Future Frigates program which is already facing serious issues. The Future Frigates, the second largest procurement project in Australia’s history, are already running $15 billion over budget, are running four years late, and defence documents state that the vessels will be slower, vulnerable to detection, unable to use their radars while sailing at full speed and with limited range. Instead of planning ahead for our national security, the Defence Minister has attempted to hose down the significance of technical concerns flagged in an important departmental report. Considering this Government’s track record of bungling major defence contracts, it is reckless that this government has no alternative plan. Federal Labor has grave concerns the Government is failing to maintain and deliver the capability we need to keep Australians safe. The Morrison Government likes to talk tough on Defence, but the reality is they are haemorrhaging money with consistent cost blow outs, while failing actually to deliver the assets we need to defend our nation. This Government’s actions fail to match their words when it comes to defending this nation. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Director of Sales Graham Joss at [email protected]