AUSTRALIA is rapidly accelerating its procurement of new defence equipment and technology amid a globally deteriorating strategic environment.
Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price has spearheaded the changes, which will involve slashing swathes of red tape that previously protracted procurement negotiations by years.
- Review will significantly improve the way defence does business.
- Move comes as frictions grow between CCP and democracies worldwide.
- Australia will be better prepared to respond to the needs of defence.
“For a project that would have previously taken four years, or possibly even longer to get to the point of a contract signature, these changes will reduce that period by up to 12 months,” Ms Price said.
The improved delivery of capability for the Australian Defence Force comes following a September 2020 review into the previous process, with the new measures promising to cut both time and financial cost for projects evaluated above $20m.
HOWITZERS
One of Australia’s most recent and most significant contracts includes a $1b weapons deal with South Korean firm Hanwha, a move that will bolster Australia’s defensive might with 30 new self-propelled howitzers and 15 armoured ammunition supply vehicles.
“The implementation of the review’s recommendations will significantly improve the way defence does business,” Ms Price said.
She highlighted the importance of streamlining the acquisition of new weapons and equipment in light of tensions simmering on a global scale.
“Our strategic environment is deteriorating and creating new challenges for us to overcome, so we must have a more agile procurement system that delivers the capability for our ADF more quickly and treats industry as a fundamental partner in the delivery of this capability,” Ms Price said.
“This change, and other initiatives, introduced following the review will help the industry be better prepared and ready to respond to the needs of defence and government.”
The announcement comes as frictions steadily grow between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and democracies worldwide.
Beijing had previously attempted to punish Australia by slapping trade sanctions on the nation’s coal, wine, barley, beef, lobster, timber and cotton – a politically motivated decision triggered after Australia called for an independent inquiry into the origins of the Wuhan virus.
COERCION
But Australia has continued to push back against the CCP’s coercion, with Defence Minister Peter Dutton earlier calling out the communist regime for touting shallow words of peace.
“By now, we are all familiar with the frequent claims of the Chinese government that it is committed to peace, cooperation and development,” Mr Dutton said.
“And yet we bear witness to a significant disconnect between words and actions, between rhetoric and reality.”
Mr Dutton has also remarked on aggressive events that had been unfolding worldwide.
“We’re facing challenges including rapid military modernisation, tension over territorial claims, heightened economic coercion, undermining of international law, enhanced disinformation, foreign interference and cyber threats,” he said.
In particular, the defence minister pointed to Beijing violating international agreements after it constructed 20 man-made island outposts in the South China Sea, sent military jets into Taiwan’s air defence space, used militia-crewed fishing vessels in the waters off the Philippines and escalated border tensions between both India and Japan.
PROPAGANDA
He has also called out Beijing for its decision to deprive Hong Kong of its democratic institutions, its cyber activities against foreign governments and commercial institutions, and for its anti-Australian propaganda revolving around Australian troops peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan.
However, Mr Dutton is also aware that Australia must avoid engaging in conflict with the CCP.
“Every major city in Australia, including Hobart, is within range of China’s missiles,” he said. “Australia’s position is clear: conflict must be avoided.”PC
Is China even capable of fighting a serious war against hardened enemies? These idiots have fought and won only one battle – against the Chinese Nationalists after the Nationalists were severely weakened by the Japs – and soviets. Australia has never stopped being at war. We must be odds on to win any fight with anyone – even with fewer weapons.
Maybe PM Keating and Minister Evans were right to want a tie-up with Republika Indonesia?
Australia can’t even support a car industry. Tell me, someone, how are we are to defend ourselves? Wars are won in factories – not in trenches.
People should research the late Maurice Strong, he started out as a UN executive and became a multi-billionaire, he was a Canadian.
Strong is said to be one of the creators of the political agenda based on climate change, as compared to natural Earth Cycles of climate zones changing and short term weather events. The climate hoax is the basis for, as admitted in October 2015 just before the UN IPCC Paris Conference was held, that climate change was not the real objective which was to change the capitalist system (free enterprise system) that has provided greatly increased prosperity for developed nations and provided the funds that have been used to improve people’s lives, medical science for example.
Admission by UN Official Christiana Figueres, and at others at different times.
Strong was wanted by the Environmental Protection Agency in Canada for attempting to illegally pump water from an aquifer below a property he had purchased in Canada, he successfully applied for asylum in China, from the CCP. His cousin had been a close girlfriend of Chairman Mao Zedong and, apparently, he and his fellow travellers in the climate hoax and agendas favour a controlled and managed type of capitalism, much like the existing for chosen comrades only system in China. The rest of the people are the labourers for factories and other workplaces.
The non-government World Economic Forum is an associate, and please consider their after COVID-19 plans: “Reset”, Build Back Better” and “New Green Deal”. Unfortunately, and alarmingly, the leaders of nations repeat these slogans and so do private sector executives and directors. Even the conservative Australian and New Zealand Chartered Accountants have taken this globalism on board. Or better described as Marxism?
There are many references to Maurice Strong on the internet and The Spectator magazine has published articles about him
Source: 2006/07 Federal Budget review.
The Howard Coalition Government 1996-2007 increased Defence spending by $19.6 billion – an increase of 37% in real terms since the Keating Labor Budget for 1995/96.
And a commitment to a real funding increase of 3% every year for the next 10 years.
Rudd Labor elected to government in November 2007 did not follow the Howard Government commitment and cut back on Defence spending 2008-2013.
We should be giving space for the peaceful rise of China. We can behind closed doors diplomatically draw up spheres of influence so that China can have a joint leadership role in Asia. It is too late to envelope China and the alternative (a war in which we are critically unprepared) is unthinkable. Diplomatic neutrality. Non interference in foreign affairs. Australia first!
“We should be giving space for the peaceful rise of China.”
Just as Chamberlain allowed Hitler to march into the Sudetenland without demur, because it was the latter’s “last territorial demand in Europe”.
“We can behind closed doors diplomatically draw up spheres of influence so that China can have a joint leadership role in Asia.”
LOL; you understand as much about China’s intent as you do about history. I assume that you would be happy to cede to the Chinese the entire South China Sea – what could possibly go wrong?
“It is too late to envelope China […]”.
Perhaps the slowness of our response can be attributed to the tardiness of Australia Post (maybe we need to hand out more Cartier watches).
No doubt to evolve into another Sea Sprite or Collins class fiasco.
Not long ago a defence review in The Australian newspaper mentioned the RAN Collins Class submarines, customised for the RAN and a Swedish design of which the latest are known as Gotland Class submarine.
The author acknowledged the bad image those submersible ships had received when first launched, early problems since rectified, and then the RAN had six very capable diesel-electric powered submarines fit for purpose and considered to be top of the list for conventional designs.
Apparently the RAN plan, with Minister for Defence and Cabinet support, to upgrade the Collins Class submarines and extend their working life.