Vague and not-so-reassuring Air Warfare Destroyer release from entrenched defence bureaucracy

Today's release from the Entrenched Defence Bureaucracy in regard to the Air Warfare Destroyer. The way I see it, accountability would require firing people at the DMO. The boss of the DMO (King) and his history with the AWD is especially interesting.

Additional shipbuilding expertise to be inserted into the Air Warfare Destroyer program
9 December 2014

The Government has taken the next major step to put the $8.5 billion Air Warfare Destroyer program back on track to deliver critical capability for the Royal Australian Navy.

Following a competitive procurement process, BAE Systems, Navantia SA and Raytheon Australia will take on increased roles in the Air Warfare Destroyer program for an interim period. Their increased involvement will drive immediate improvements in shipbuilding performance.

The Government is committed to putting this important Defence project back on track and stop the growing cost and schedule overruns we inherited from our predecessors by implementing the Reform Strategy recommended by Professor Donald Winter’s Independent Review of the Air Warfare Destroyer program.

This focus on resolving outstanding productivity issues will ensure opportunities to improve performance for the duration of the project are maximised. (Empty Sentence)

The outcomes of this interim period will also inform the Government’s considerations on the Australian naval shipbuilding industry in the context of the 2015 Defence White Paper. (Well of course, since you have a gold-plated, dud project that has to be pencil-whipped into submission before then.)

This interim period marks a turning point in the performance of ASC and its partners on this important project and will help renew confidence in the future of Australia’s shipbuilding industry. (No it does not. This is performance-based. What is stated in this paragraph requires actual results. How many times has the DMO been involved in "turning points" on troubled projects?)

No decisions have yet been made about the long term arrangements for the Air Warfare Destroyer program. (Well of course. This is a hallmark of weak leadership.)

The Air Warfare Destroyer Alliance Industry Participants – ASC Shipbuilder and Raytheon – will continue to be responsible for the construction and delivery of the three ships. (Just that "responsible" in regard to the entrenched defence bureaucracy  has s different meaning than real organisations that have to show return on investment and present tangible action if that is not happening.)

We are committed (Sorry you used that word in the 4th paragraph, why use it again? What is the real purpose of this whole paragraph?) to working collaboratively and constructively with all stakeholders to ensure we realise both the critically important national security benefits of this program as well as its long term benefits for the Australian shipbuilding industry in the most efficient and effective way possible.

Media contacts:
For Minister Cormann – Karen Wu – 0428 350 139
For Minister Johnston – Brad Rowswell – 0417 917 796

Red comments mine. An additional note on that last paragraph. How is this project a benefit to Australian ship building when we are wasting resources making the wrong kinds of ships? These resources could be best used doing something else.

Interesting the Winter's report is being brought up as it is the current leadership that was slow and ineffective at implementing those recommendations that were so praise-worthy.
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