Media Releases

$45 BILLION FUTURE FRIGATES FACING SERIOUS ISSUES

February 01, 2022

Reports today have raised concerns about another Defence project in trouble under the Morrison Government, with the beleaguered Future Frigates program facing multiple technical capability and safety issues.
 
The Future Frigates, the second largest procurement project in Australia’s history, are already running $15 billion over budget, are running several years late, and now we learn are up against serious concerns that may make the vessels slower, vulnerable to detection, and with limited range.
 
The Government must also address concerns raised in today’s reports that Australian defence companies might be overlooked amid claims local industry content requirements are a “complicating factor for system design maturity”.
 
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, including:

  • No new contracted submarines after sinking over $2 billion to date as well as refusing to detail the black hole of termination costs for cancelling the subs.
  • The $3.8 billion fleet of MRH-90 Taipan helicopters were scrapped due to potentially catastrophic maintenance issues to spend another $7 billion more on new Blackhawks.
  • The $1.5 billion C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifters that were not fit for battle and had to be reclassified as humanitarian aircraft.
  • The $3 billion Battle Management System was suspended after not receiving full IT security accreditation.
  • The $4 billion Offshore Patrol Vessel program has been delayed with no answers given for the setback.  
  • The $350 million Cape Class patrol boats delayed because they used sub-standard imported aluminium.

The Morrison Government has consistently failed to deliver the assets our Defence personnel need to secure our nation.
 
It must get control of our critical Defence contracts, get them back on track, and see these projects delivered.
 
This Government’s actions fail to match their words when it comes to defending this nation.

SIGN UP FOR MY E-NEWSLETTER!