Defence bureaucracy grows while ADF falls 3700 recruits short of target
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ABC News
2 days ago
- ABC News
Defence must get better at managing big, expensive projects, says chief
The Australian Defence Force must get better at managing taxpayer dollars on massive projects, the nation's highest-ranked military office has acknowledged. Chief of Defence Admiral David Johnston has said the ADF does need to "do better" as the military equips itself to carry forward the mammoth AUKUS project, which is currently under review by the Trump administration. Defence has been plagued by expensive cost and time blowouts on some major projects in recent years, leading to an accumulation of nearly a century of delays across projects, according to some measures. But Australia is also under pressure from its key military ally — the United States — to significantly increase its defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP, or up to $287 billion over a decade. Admiral Johnston told the ABC it was clear there have been failures in the past, and improvement was required. "We aim to do better," he said. "We want to see every acquisition project that we are on, deliver on time and capability." But he argued the ADF is also tasked with acquiring complex, cutting-edge technology that inevitably comes with risk. "These are highly complex systems, by nature pushing the edge in capabilities — because that's what you need when you're looking at capabilities that provide for the defence of your country … [But] we do need to spend [public money] well." The defence chief stood by the $45 billion Hunter Class Frigates project, which will deliver the first of six ships in 2032, saying he is "utterly convinced" the ships will be "magnificent". Defence Minister Richard Marles said there was clear pressure on the Department of Defence to improve its management of public funds. "We've been very open about the challenges that Defence has faced historically in terms of its ability to meet delivery," he said. "Delivery has to be a key focus and we will look at everything we need to in terms of sharpening our delivery so that we get the best quality in the defence spend. "And that includes, if needs be, pursuing bureaucratic reform." The ADF is in the middle of a weeks-long showcase of its strengths, conducting massive and complex military exercises across much of the country. The "Talisman Sabre" exercises involve nearly 40,000 defence personnel from 19 different countries, jointly organised by Australia and the US. Early last week, Defence performed the first demonstration of its newly-acquired "HIMARS" long-range missile system, capable of hitting targets up to 500 kilometres away. The ADF has made clear its desire to focus more on defending Australia's northern approaches, shifting from the missions in far-flung destinations that have occupied most of its energy in the past two decades. Admiral Johnston has also recently warned Australians may need to think of the country as a "homeland from which we will conduct combat operations". While the 2022 Defence Strategic Review pointed to the acquisition of nuclear submarines as "transforming (the Australian) navy's capability", the admiral has been eager to highlight Defence's strengths outside of AUKUS. "The submarine is a very important capability, but it's not the only capability that we're progressing," he said. "When you look at our strategy and you understand the breadth of capabilities that we are bringing, prioritising long-range strike capabilities, the work around our own northern infrastructure to enhance capacity, innovation in a range of sectors. "Submarines are key as part of it but they're not the only part of the defence force of the future." The $368-billion AUKUS deal that will provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines is currently under review in the US, led by a Pentagon official with a mixed history of views on the pact. Admiral Johnston said he maintains constant dialogue with his counterparts in the US, and the Australian perspective would be put forward as the review continues. "Australia has indicated that we'll provide input to that, and we're working through what might be most useful for them, but we remain very confident that the AUKUS deal is a good one for all three countries that are participating," he said. "The logic and rationale that has underpinned the series of decisions that have led to the countries agreeing are as strong and relevant today as they were when that decision was first made." Research prepared for the US Congress last year laid out an alternative option to AUKUS, where Australia hosts US-flagged submarines into the longer term. From 2027, the US and UK will base nuclear-powered submarines at HMAS Stirling south of Perth. Under the idea floated by the Congressional Research Service, rather than having Australia acquire US-built Virginia-Class submarines as planned in the early-2030's, the US would continue basing submarines in Australia and conduct missions on Australia's behalf. Elbridge Colby, who is conducting the AUKUS review out of the Pentagon, has previously aired concerns about whether the US can produce enough submarines to meet both Australian and American needs. Asked about the idea of the US simply basing submarines here rather than providing Australia with submarines of its own, Admiral Johnston said Australian-flagged submarines were vital. "That firmly remains our objective — to have an Australian national capability that brings all of the extraordinary capacity that a nuclear submarine brings, but having one that is under our national control," he said. Mr Marles echoed the case that sovereignty is an important consideration, as Australia pursues a nuclear-powered submarine. "We need a long-range, long-term submarine capability, we only achieve that in the future by having a nuclear-powered submarine capability," he said. "Sovereignty is fundamentally important in terms of that. And being able to acquire the US Virginia-class submarines that will be Australian-flagged in the early 2030s is a critical step in Australia's overall ability to acquire this capability."
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Perth Now
‘Very unusual' if China didn't spy on war drills
The Deputy Prime Minister says China is not spying on Australian war drills but could not rule it out from happening in the days ahead. Richard Marles, who is also the Defence Minister, said on Today that he was certain ongoing Australian war drills were not being spied on 'right now'. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is participating in Talisman Sabre military exercises that include more than 30,000 military personnel from Australia, the US and 19 partner nations. The exercises began on Sunday and will run until August 4 across Queensland, Western Australia, NSW, the Northern Territory and Papua New Guinea. Mr Marles was asked on Today whether he was aware if warships were spying on the war games. 'They're not, but they have in the past,' he said. 'But it might happen over the coming days and weeks. That's what's happening.' Labor MP Pat Conroy said on Sunday – when he was acting as defence minister – the ADF was prepared for China to observe the military exercises. The ADF is participating in Talisman Sabre war drills: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone Credit: News Corp Australia 'People observe these exercises to collect intelligence around procedures, around the electronic spectrum and the use of communications, and we'll adjust accordingly so that we manage that leakage,' Mr Conroy said. 'I think it'll be a two-way process, but when we conduct these exercises, we're always cognisant that they're being observed by people who want to collect information about how we work with our allies, how we communicate with our allies and partners, and you manage that accordingly in a sensitive way. 'That's what the Australian people would expect our Australian Defence Force to do, and we'll continue to do that. 'But again, I'll say the Chinese military have observed these exercises since 2017 and it'd be very unusual if they didn't do that this time.' Chinese spy ships were spotted at the last Talisman Sabre exercises in 2023. Mr Marles said China could spy on the drills in the coming days and weeks. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Marles said the Australian Navy was in the vicinity of China, and the 'fundamental point' was the countries should engage in accordance with the 'rules-based order'. 'The reason we have used that as our baseline is because we are much more often in the vicinity of China than China is in the vicinity of Australia,' he said. 'And the reason for that is because that's where our trade routes are. 'That's where our sea lines of communication are. 'The bulk of the work of the Royal Australian Navy is in places like the South China Sea, the East China Sea, the waters north of Australia and it's really important that they are able to continue to do that work.'
News.com.au
4 days ago
- News.com.au
Defence Minister says China could spy on Aussie ships in days ahead
The Deputy Prime Minister says China is not spying on Australian war drills but could not rule it out from happening in the days ahead. Richard Marles, who is also the Defence Minister, said on Today that he was certain ongoing Australian war drills were not being spied on 'right now'. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is participating in Talisman Sabre military exercises that include more than 30,000 military personnel from Australia, the US and 19 partner nations. The exercises began on Sunday and will run until August 4 across Queensland, Western Australia, NSW, the Northern Territory and Papua New Guinea. Mr Marles was asked on Today whether he was aware if warships were spying on the war games. 'They're not, but they have in the past,' he said. 'But it might happen over the coming days and weeks. That's what's happening.' Labor MP Pat Conroy said on Sunday – when he was acting as defence minister – the ADF was prepared for China to observe the military exercises. 'People observe these exercises to collect intelligence around procedures, around the electronic spectrum and the use of communications, and we'll adjust accordingly so that we manage that leakage,' Mr Conroy said. 'I think it'll be a two-way process, but when we conduct these exercises, we're always cognisant that they're being observed by people who want to collect information about how we work with our allies, how we communicate with our allies and partners, and you manage that accordingly in a sensitive way. 'That's what the Australian people would expect our Australian Defence Force to do, and we'll continue to do that. 'But again, I'll say the Chinese military have observed these exercises since 2017 and it'd be very unusual if they didn't do that this time.' Chinese spy ships were spotted at the last Talisman Sabre exercises in 2023. Mr Marles said the Australian Navy was in the vicinity of China, and the 'fundamental point' was the countries should engage in accordance with the 'rules-based order'. 'The reason we have used that as our baseline is because we are much more often in the vicinity of China than China is in the vicinity of Australia,' he said. 'And the reason for that is because that's where our trade routes are. 'That's where our sea lines of communication are.
